Chronicle of a deaf audiologist

Anxiety in people with hearing loss

Multiple studies have linked hearing loss with a greater chance of developing anxiety and experiencing psychological stress.

Hearing loss can make it difficult to communicate and follow conversations, which may result in missing important information or social cues. This can cause feelings of exclusion and social anxiety.

Some people with hearing loss also worry about their condition worsening, and how this might affect their careers and relationships.

If anxiety is triggered even in part by hearing loss, treatment of the hearing loss may help. Research has shown that people with moderate hearing loss who used hearing aids were less likely to report psychological distress than those who didn’t.

By making it easier to communicate and stay engaged, hearing aids and other forms of treatment can reduce the anxiety, frustration and isolation that come with untreated hearing loss.

 

Related post: Feelings of inadequacy with hearing loss

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  • Photo credit:  © Alan Fortune

    Sandra Vandenhoff

    Dr. Sandra Vandenhoff is an audiologist with hearing loss, founder of HEARa, Hearing Rehabilitation teacher, and Canadian author, who does not remember saying on her first day of wearing hearing aids: "Mom, I can hear my shoelaces!"

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