Finding root cause for depression & anxiety: Hearing loss related?

You don’t revel your age but how long did you suffer from hearing loss? Loss of hearing can also be a precursor to dementia and I’m just throwing it out for discussion but have you been tested? Could the anxiety and depression be the beginning? Not trying to scare you just offering possibilities. There are meds you can take for these symptoms too.

@jenatsky
Bilateral hearing loss is reveal through testing and shows steady loss. In my case I felt the need after reminders from my wife of 54 years. So my audiologist believes it started during my time in service. BTW - I am the son of a dementia casualty. My unqualified claim is my dad lost his parents when he was 2, rough times until he managed a subsistence life at the age of 12. Tough times in the '20's and '30's.

Hard knocks I believe it’s called! That is one sad story for your dad but he survived it. There is a genetic component to dementia too that your docs may want to explore if you have kids. A close friend was just diagnosed last week with dementia and he’s having some difficulty accepting it. Good luck

I know that my depression is inherited. I found a wonderful combination of drugs that do help me so very much to be able to stop the sliding into a dark space. I know I'll be on drugs the rest of my life, but it they keep me balanced and able to just enjoy life - so? I'm pretty sure that depression is linked to a few things, but my bet is that they are neurological in nature, and not hearing loss on the side. 🙂

@jlwilcox
Have you ever tried stand-up comedy? I bet that you'd be terrific. I tried it once, but the audience kept telling me to sit down(lol)

@meatheads Let's take a good look at what hearing loss does to a person besides the actual loss or diminishment of a sense we depend on for communication. Human beings are social 'animals'. It's true that some people are extroverts and others are introverts. Personalities vary, but all people need to interact with other people to live comfortably. Very basic information there. Reality: Hearing loss is a barrier to communication.

Hearing loss robs people of their spontaneity. This, and other things that change tend to be deeper issues for those of us who are diagnosed with hearing loss as adults who have lived with typical hearing for years. Suddenly we can't communicate as well as we'd like to. That is intimidating. Some of us fight it and do all we can to keep going. Others do the opposite. They stop doing things they once enjoyed. After blaming people for not speaking up they come to realize the problem is theirs. Along with this comes changes in behavior that not only affect us but affect others. Family members and friends have to deal with these changes in us too. Some become kind and understanding; others not so much.

Those changes can lead to emotions none of us understand. They are brought on by fear, frustration & fatigue which all accompany our new life in some way. We fear losing jobs, friends, status, etc. Frustration comes due to the inability to communicate fluidly in many situations; especially when their is background noise which exists in most every social setting. Fatigue comes because we have to work so hard to do all we can to try to hear and understand. It's exhausting.

So what do we do? As mentioned earlier, some stop doing things they once enjoyed. That affects others as well. Some become more assertive and learn all they can about how to help themselves whether it be with technology, counseling, etc. Sadly, few in the counseling fields know anything about hearing loss. They do know that poor communication can lead to isolation. Isolation can lead to depression.

Yes, cognitive decline has been associated with hearing loss in recent studies. However that affects only a small percentage of people. Often the appearance of cognitive decline comes from the sudden change in behavior a person with hearing loss experiences.

Meeting other people who are living with hearing loss can be very helpful. Why? Because they understand all of the above. You can talk about it without someone telling you "you should be glad it's not something worse." Or saying "Never mind, it wasn't important" when you ask to have something you missed repeated. Seriously, support groups, especially those that are able to meet in person, help eliminate the depression that comes with many issues.

The technology available today can help a great deal. However, it has to be fit well and fully explained to the person who needs it. Hearing Assistive Technology that goes beyond a good pair of hearing aids can be life changing. So can cochlear implants. Unfortunately, much of the information about that technology comes through people who use it not people to sell it. When you can Hear Other People's Experiences in a support group you will find HOPE.

Check out: The Hearing Loss Assn. of America (HLAA) at http://www.hearingloss.org for chapter locations. Also the Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA) can be very supportive.