The 10 Most Common Consequences of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss can strike anyone at any time in their lives. It might be related to exposure to loud noises, but it could also be related to a medical condition, head trauma and more. However, in all cases, loss of hearing comes with frightening consequences that will have serious ramifications for your life.

Depression

Hearing loss and depression go hand in hand. According to a study released by the US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, it’s actually one of the leading causes of depression in women under 70.

Cognitive Decline

It seems like adding insult to injury, but there is a well-established link between hearing loss and cognitive decline. There are several ways that loss of hearing can lead to dementia, including the ongoing stress of trying to hear, and a change in brain structure due to hearing loss.

Social Isolation

According to a study by the National Council on Aging, hearing loss can lead to significant social isolation in seniors. Only 32% of people with hearing loss not using hearing aids participate in any form of social functions. Without that social connection, depression can set in

Income Disparity

Hearing loss doesn’t affect just mental and emotional health. It can also affect your standard of living. According to the Better Hearing Institute, untreated hearing loss could reduce your income by as much as $30,000 per year.

Impaired Memory

We rely on our memories for everything from remembering where we put our car keys to knowing the names and faces of our loved ones. Hearing loss can threaten that. Cognitive decline linked to hearing loss often includes impaired memory, leading to an even greater reduction in quality of life.

Being Misjudged

Individuals with hearing loss can be misjudged quite easily. Severe untreated hearing loss can cause people around you to assume you have some sort of mental development problem. Even mild untreated hearing loss can cause people to misjudge you.

Safety Concerns

Our sense of hearing is vital for safety. You need to hear the lifeguard’s whistle at the beach or pool, or the siren of the approaching ambulance behind you on the road. If your hearing loss is untreated, you are at greater risk for any number of threats.

Increased Anxiety

As hearing loss increases, so do anxiety levels. Not only does that affect how you feel mentally and emotionally, but it puts greater stress and strain on your heart, increases blood pressure, and even affects how you interact with others in your life.

Making Mistakes at Work

If hearing loss is affecting you, it’s natural to expect that it will impact your work performance. Simply having to ask for clarification because you didn’t hear instructions reduces your productivity, and can cause you to make mistakes in your tasks and duties.

Lower Quality of Life

Ultimately, hearing loss reduces your quality of life. If hearing loss is left untreated, you’ll feel excluded from conversations. Anxiety, depression and social isolation compound this.

It doesn’t have to be this way, though. There are ways to treat even the most severe forms of hearing loss. Hearing aid technology has advanced by leaps and bounds today, and there are many different options available.

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This guest blog post was produced by Pin Drop hearing centers, a trusted Canada-wide hearing clinic. Contact us today in Toronto at 416-484-4327.