Hearing Loss and Depression:
Not a Lost Cause
9/8/2007

There is a strong and documented link between chronic illnesses and depression. Various research studies indicate that as health problems increase, so does the risk of depression. That is because continued pain or discomfort that affects and limits a person’s independence or mobility can trigger a psychological and emotional reaction.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, people suffering from chronic illnesses have a 25 to 33 percent chance of getting depressed, as compared to between 10 and 25 percent for women and 5 to 12 percent for men in the general population.

By its prevalence, hearing loss can be considered a chronic illness as well. Roughly one-third of Americans 65 to 74 years of age and nearly half of those 75 and older have age-related hearing loss, making it the third most common disabling condition, following arthritis and hypertension.

A large-scale study by the National Council on the Aging found that people with an untreated hearing ailment were more likely to suffer from depression, sadness, anxiety, isolation, and other mental anguish. » Click to Continue