Hearing Loss Linked to Depression

Whereas among caregivers of people with hearing loss have noticed a link with depression, there has been a shortage of clinical study data to define the relation.  Chuan-Ming Li, a from the US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (Maryland, USA), and colleagues analyzed data collected on 18,318 adults, ages 18 years and older, enrolled in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.  The younger subjects self-reported on their hearing status, while hearing tests were given to those 70 and older. All participants filled out a questionnaire designed to reveal depression.  The team observed that as hearing loss became worse, the depression did, too, except among those who were deaf. Hearing loss was linked with an increased risk of depression in adults of all ages, but was most pronounced in the respondents ages 18 to 69 years. As well. women had higher rates of depression than men did.  Observing that:  “self-reported [hearing impairment] and audiometrically determined [hearing impairment] were significantly associated with depression, particularly in women,” the study authors urge that: “Health care professionals should be aware of an increased risk for depression among adults with hearing loss.”