Hearing Loss and Depression in Seniors: Understanding the Connection

Statistics from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Diseases reveal that many Americans live with both hearing impairment and mental health problems. About a fifth of adults between 65 and 74 and 55% of those aged 75 and older have disabling hearing loss. Of all adults with moderate to worse hearing loss, 18% have depression.

Hearing loss and depression are terrible enough on their own. But when combined, they can be more debilitating, especially in seniors who already face many other age-related challenges.

Fortunately, with the right approaches, older adults can minimize their risks or treat and manage both conditions and their symptoms.

The team at LakeHouse Escanaba, our assisted living community in Escanaba, MI, has shared insights into auditory and mental wellness in aging in this guide, so please read on.

The Link Between Hearing Loss and Depression

To better understand the relationship between hearing loss and depression, it pays to know the most common auditory decline effects first:

Communication difficulties
Impaired ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)
Reduced cognitive function

Now, let's explore how the above can become potential senior depression causes.

Communication Difficulties

Hearing loss can significantly affect communication abilities, making understanding speech difficult. For instance, people with hearing loss may have trouble:

Distinguishing between sounds
Catching subtle nuances in speech, such as tone and inflection
Understanding what others say, especially in noisy settings
Hearing words correctly, which can make misunderstandings more likely

As a result, individuals with hearing loss may ask others to repeat words or phrases multiple times. They may also have to concentrate more intensely to hear and understand speech.

Over time, all those communication struggles can lead to:

Fatigue and frustration
Avoidance of conversations or social gatherings
Isolation and loneliness

Unfortunately, isolation and loneliness can increase one's risk for depression and anxiety, as the U.S. CDC points out. They can also put people at a higher risk for:

Dementia
Heart disease
Stroke
Type 2 diabetes

As you can see, hearing loss isn't just a problem that affects auditory functions; it has far-reaching effects impacting overall health and quality of life.

Impaired Ability to Perform ADLs

Basic ADLs include tasks necessary to keep the body functioning and healthy, such as:

Bathing
Personal hygiene and grooming
Toileting and continence
Eating and feeding
Dressing
Moving/transferring

Instrumental ADLs are more complex tasks requiring advanced cognitive skills. They include:

Money management
Household management
Health management
Meal preparation
Communicating with others
Shopping

Hearing loss can impact older adults' ability to perform many ADLs. As mentioned above, it can lead to communication difficulties, making it challenging to manage one's health, as it involves communicating with health and wellness providers. It can also result in trouble understanding spoken medication instructions.

The inability to perform ADLs can cause even more frustration and grief in older adults, as it makes them lose independence. As a study published in the National Library of Medicine points out, older adults who have lost independence are more prone to depression.

Reduced Cognitive Function

Hearing impairment can affect cognitive function by making the brain work harder to process sounds. The increased workload reduces the brain's resources for other tasks, such as memory and reasoning.

Johns Hopkins Medicine also explains that hearing loss may contribute to a faster rate of brain atrophy. Social isolation, which can arise from avoiding conversations and people due to auditory impairments, can compound the problem. Both brain atrophy and isolation can contribute to dementia.

The brain fatigue alone that hearing loss can cause may be enough to make seniors feel depressed. They may also constantly worry about being unable to communicate well with others, making them feel anxious and lose sleep. Anxiety and sleep deficiency can further worsen cognitive functions.

Treatment Options for Hearing Loss and Depression

Hearing aids are the first line of treatment for permanent hearing loss. They are small, wearable devices that amplify, clarify, and make sounds easier to hear. They're effective for mild to severe hearing loss.

Just as vital is auditory training, which helps seniors:

Adapt to hearing loss
Learn the proper use of hearing aids
Communicate more effectively with hearing aids

When older adults with hearing loss can hear and communicate better, they may find it easier to ease and manage depression symptoms. For instance, because their hearing ability has improved with hearing aids and auditory training, they may become more motivated to engage in social games and activities.

However, seniors with depression should also explore other treatment avenues, such as:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
Dialectical behavioral therapy

Antidepressant medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may also help.

Reducing Risks of Hearing Loss and Depression

While preventing hearing loss and depression isn't always possible, seniors have many ways to lower their risks:

Avoiding prolonged exposure to loud noises
Wearing earplugs or earmuffs in noisy environments
Promptly treating ear infections and ear wax build-up
Having regular check-ups for both hearing and mental health
Getting at least 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep
Prioritizing senior nutrition
Regularly engaging in physical, social, and recreational activities

For older adults with hearing loss and who struggle with ADLs, please know that comprehensive senior care and support are available through a reliable assisted living community like LakeHouse Escanaba. In our beautiful, pet-friendly community, you'll have access to a team of compassionate and highly skilled personal care providers who can help with all your ADL needs. We also have many daily activities and events to help keep you fit and social.

Stay Social and Happy at LakeHouse Escanaba

Since hearing loss and depression are common and can co-exist, seniors should seek care and support for both as soon as possible. The sooner they address both, the more manageable their condition will be and the lower their risks of developing other complications.

At LakeHouse Escanaba, our professional but compassionate personal care providers are always happy and ready to assist our residents with ADLs. Our daily activities and events also keep them physically, socially, and mentally engaged, while our chef-prepared meals give them the balanced nutrition they need.

So, if you or a loved one is ready to live your golden years to the fullest, we encourage you to tour our beautiful assisted living community in Escanaba, MI. Contact us today to schedule your visit!