If you work in an environment that is loud or take part in some activities that are loud, then it is important that you read this new information. According to a new study by the Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders, people with hearing loss are at a much greater risk of depression than their normal hearing counterparts. We will explore this idea and break down the facts to determine the results of the study, how hearing loss causes depression, and what we can do to prevent it from happening.
An Ounce Of Prevention
One of the most important things that you can do for your hearing is to protect it at all times. Avoid loud noises such as concerts when possible, and try to sit far away from the speakers at major events. While millions of people work jobs that are very loud, it is important to always take the time to wear the best hearing protection that you can afford because it may save your , hearing for later in life. Using the avoid and nullify methods of protecting your hearing, you will be capable of keeping your hearing intact for a larger portion of your life.
The Results Of The Study
For the study that was recently undertaken and compiled, there were many interesting factors in place. It started with a large group of people, about 18,000, and they were each told to test their hearing and self report it to the clinic. The people over the age of 70 had to have their hearing tested for them, though. Once the hearing test was complete, all people had to have an assessment completed to determine if they showed any feelings of thoughts of depression.
The results of the study were very interesting but concerning. For example, the people over the age of 70 who had hearing loss had a rather normal amount of depression. However, under the age of 70, there were tremendous amounts of people with hearing loss, and of them 11% had signs of depression. These results left the researchers reeling, and they are doing more to explore the data again.
How Hearing Loss Influence Depression
At first, many people may not see the connection between the two different ailments. However, hearing loss does one major thing to people of all ages: it isolates them. If you take someone who was active in conversations and activities and remove their sense of hearing, it takes away the enjoyment. As a result, they will become more withdrawn and sullen, leading to depression. Another thing that is being looked at is the type of brain damage that is caused by hearing loss and whether that plays a role in the situation, but that has not yet been tested.