Silent Stress: Expert Explains The Hidden Link Between Hearing Loss And Mental Well-Being – Onlymyhealth

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Hearing loss can often feel like a silent struggle, quietly affecting not just our ability to hear, but also our emotional well-being. Many people experience the frustration of missing out on conversations or the isolating feeling of being left out in social settings. This constant effort to catch every word can lead to exhaustion and stress, impacting mental health in profound ways. It’s easy to overlook the emotional toll that hearing loss takes, but the connection between our ears and our minds is strong. We spoke to our expert Raja S, Audiologist and Founder Hearzap, who explained this hidden link and listed effective ways to cope with the challenges.
hearing-loss
"Hearing loss is an issue that cuts across every age range, from the young ones who enjoy loud music all the time to older people with age-induced hearing loss. We all know the practical hurdles and active challenges that we see: communication constraints, the absence of certain sounds, and the necessity of using hearing aids. However, the psychological aspect remains underreported," said Raja. According to a 2020 study, hearing loss affects about two-thirds of adults over 70 and may lead to psychological distress.
The brain overworks to ‘hear’ sounds since it tries to ‘plug the gap’ so to speak. This continuous pressure tends to build up into what is called ‘cognitive overload’ which over time leads to stress, anxiety, and sometimes fatigue.
Also Read: Meningitis And Hearing Loss: Expert Explains The Connection And How To Prevent It
"For people experiencing hearing loss, negative feelings about stress extend beyond specific moments. It becomes a part of routine life, an everyday sensation experienced in most social situations. Hearing difficulties have been documented as a significant cause for greater emotional and psychological conditions, such as stress, anxiety, and occasional depression," added Raja.
social-isolation

  • Social Isolation: People with hearing loss typically become withdrawn and avoid social contact. Making an effort to communicate continuously frightens some people from the company. This often leads them to be lonely, which is a problem in itself and contributes to increased strain and anxiety.
  • Communication Strain: Many people do not comprehend how tiring casual talks can be, especially when one is trying to listen, interpret, and retort at the same time. The urgency created by the misinterpretation of messages can create unwarranted emotional angst.
  • Cognitive Fatigue: The amount of mental effort put in to perform less simple tasks like understanding truncated auditory processes is larger. This results in mental exhaustion, something well-known to be correlated with stress in the long term.

Breaking the Cycle: Managing Stress and Hearing Loss

The pleasant surprise is that it is possible to deal with both hearing problems and the relevant stress. It turns out that a few supportive devices, along with healthy changes in routine and mental support, help relieve much of the burden. Raja listed some of the management measures for stress and hearing loss:
hearing-aids

  • Hearing Aids and Devices: The leaps and bounds made in modern hearing aids are astounding, with vastly improved sound clarity and enhanced connectivity to everyday devices. These devices can help reduce the burden of hearing loss and enable people to feel more comfortable in social interactions.
  • Counselling and Supportive Care: Therapy and support groups can assist in dealing with the feelings associated with loss of hearing. There is substantial relief from the burden of hearing loss from talking to other patients undergoing the same problem.
  • Early Diagnosis and Intervention: Hearing problems should be addressed at their infancy, if any, in order to avoid the emotional or cognitive negative effects of prolonged unattended hearing problems. Engaging in regular hearing tests caters for early treatment before the hearing is affected, and aids for severe assistive technology interventions are prescribed.

Bottomline

Dr Raja concluded, "By addressing both the physical and emotional components of hearing loss, individuals can reclaim a sense of control and reduce the chronic stress that often comes with this condition. In a world where communication is key, hearing loss doesn’t have to mean losing touch—it just means finding new ways to connect."
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your own professional if you are dealing with any health issues to avoid complications.]
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