Is There an Association Between Untreated Hearing Loss and Psychosocial Outcomes?

Objective: Age-related hearing loss is one of the leading causes of disability in older adults. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between untreated hearing loss, social (perception of quality and quantity of social network) and emotional loneliness (perception of limited emotional support), social isolation (size of the social network), social support (actual or perceived availability of resources from the social network) and psychological discomfort (depression, anxiety, and stress) in older adults. Study Design: Cross-sectional study design. Methods: A total of 202 community derived sample of volunteers, age range 40-89 years, mean age (M) = 65.3 ± 11.0 years were recruited. Of these 115 were females (M = 63.2 ± 12.0 years) and 87 were males (M = 68.2 ± 8.9 years). All participants completed a hearing assessment, social interaction and support questionnaire and a social and emotional loneliness questionnaire. Results: Hearing loss significantly contributed to both moderate [P < 0.001, B (95% CI): 0.01 (0.99-1.02)] and intense levels [P < 0.001, 0.02 (1.00-1.04)] of emotional loneliness. Depression was significantly associated with satisfaction with social support [P < 0.001; -0.17 (-0.23 to -0.11), social interaction [P = 0.01; -0.07 (-0.12 to -0.01)], and moderate [P < 0.001; 0.31 (1.22-1.53)] and intense [P < 0.001; 0.29 (1.20-1.50)] levels of emotional loneliness and intense levels of social loneliness [P = 0.01; 0.12 (1.05-1.21)]. Conclusion: Untreated hearing loss significantly increases the odds of being emotionally lonely. Depression significantly contributes to social and emotional loneliness, satisfaction with social support and social loneliness. Given the higher prevalence of loneliness and psychological discomfort and their associations with untreated hearing loss, hearing-impaired older adults are at significant risk of developing loneliness and psychological discomfort. Therefore, hearing health professionals should be aware of the psychosocial burden that may accompany hearing loss, in order to provide appropriate advice and support.

Association between speech and high-frequency hearing loss and depression, anxiety and stress in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and depression are considered leading causes of disability in older adults. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between the severity of speech and high-frequency ARHL and depression, anxiety and stress in older adults. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of a community-derived sample of adult volunteers. METHODS: A hearing assessment was completed by 151 participants (73 males and 78 females; M = 64.44 ±â€¯10.77 years). Based on their better-ear speech (0.5, 1, 2, & 4 kHz) and high-frequency (6 & 8 kHz) hearing thresholds, they were divided three groups: those with normal hearing; those with mild to moderate hearing loss; and those with moderately severe to profound hearing loss. All participants also completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). RESULTS: A binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that the respective odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval) of clinically significant depression, anxiety and stress for participants with a moderately severe to profound hearing loss across the speech frequency range were: 27.51 (3.25, 232.95), 5.89 (1.95, 17.73) and 5.64 (1.55, 20.48). Similarly, the respective ORs of clinically significant depression, anxiety and stress were 6.54 (0.75, 57.02), 6.21 (1.52, 25.33) and 5.32 (1.02, 27.75) for participants with moderately severe to profound hearing loss across high frequencies. The non-parametric Cuzik test revealed a statistically significant positive (p < .05) trend of association between both better-ear speech and high-frequency hearing loss and DASS scores. CONCLUSION: The observed graded associations suggest that hearing loss is a causative factor for clinically significant depression, anxiety and stress symptoms.