The Psychological Effects Of Living With Hearing Loss

Losing the ability to hear clearly is something that can be a shock to the system, particularly for those who’ve had hearing for all of their life so far. It’s not something that people will take easily, especially if the loss of hearing is fairly abrupt.

There are plenty of psychological effects of living with hearing loss and it’s something to be open about so that you’re not going through it alone. For those whose loved ones have experienced hearing loss, it’s useful to know what support and assistance you can provide them to make it an easier transition.

In this guide, we’ll explore the typical signs and symptoms of hearing loss, along with the psychological effects that people with hearing loss often live with. Hopefully, this guide will also offer some clarity on what to do if you experience hearing loss yourself or with a loved one.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hearing Loss?

There are common signs and symptoms of hearing loss that are pretty hard to ignore. This is something that will likely be spotted by those around them or the person in particular who has the suspected hearing loss. Here are just a few signs and symptoms worth looking out for:

• Problems hearing other people and asking them to repeat what they’re saying.
• Having difficulty hearing conversations in noisy environments.
• Listening to music or watching the television on a volume much higher than needed.
• Trouble hearing background noises – on the phone, birdsong or the doorbell ringing.
• Pain in the ear or frequent ear infections.
• Buzzing or ringing sounds in the ear.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, as there can often be other signs and symptoms that present themselves depending on the degree of hearing loss. Age can be a factor in hearing loss, with older people finding themselves more susceptible to hearing loss.

The Psychological Effects of Living with Hearing Loss

There are a number of psychological effects that come from living with hearing loss that is important to highlight. The change from having perfect hearing to any degree of loss can be challenging and so it’s important to be aware of the mental impact it has. Here are some of the psychological effects that come with hearing loss.

May Feel Shame or Awkwardness in Social Environments

For those who used to enjoy participating in casual conversations at social events of all kinds it may become harder to participate if you have some degree of hearing loss. The individual themselves may feel a little shame or embarrassment at the knowledge that they can no longer hear people clearly when they talk. This is increasingly stressful when it comes to social occasions where there’s a lot of noise and activity going on in the background.

The inability to hear and trying to hear in this situation can be a struggle, talk with your audiologist about ways that you can treat your hearing loss. It may result in some people backing out of social events like birthday parties and holiday gatherings for fear of feeling more shame.

Anxiety Over Missing Phone Calls or Deliveries

For some, hearing loss can bring on a lot of anxiety. That fear of missing phone calls or deliveries due to the noises themselves being too quiet for a person with hearing loss to hear is real. It can be a worry that due to hearing loss, more pressing alarms like bedside ones to wake up for work or fire alarms going off to alert the user to smoke, are missed.

Bubbles Up a Mixture of Emotions Like Resentment or Anger

There are a lot of emotions tied to hearing loss that bubble up over this time. It’s a mixture of emotions from resentment to anger or frustration. That consistent emotional turmoil can be hard for anyone to deal with, and it may alter the individual’s mental state where they’re unable to control how they feel or interact with others.

What to Do When Hearing Loss Is Suspected

If you suspect you have hearing loss or a loved one has mentioned it, then it’s best to see an audiologist. An audiologist can conduct the relevant tests necessary to identify what degree of hearing loss has been caused and what solutions are available.

Whether that’s hearing aids or counseling, there is plenty of options out there for those who want to get more assistance with their hearing loss.

If you’re looking to learn more about hearing loss, then get in touch with Affordable Audiology & Hearing Service. We’ll be able to discuss your hearing loss and offer the best solutions for your needs. Give us a phone call today at (920) 267-5220.