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Could changes in your hearing be affecting your mental health?

The changes that go sometimes unnoticedThe changes that go sometimes unnoticed

The changes that go sometimes unnoticedThe changes that go sometimes unnoticed

You might have noticed that conversations feel harder than they used to. That you ask people to repeat themselves more. That certain situations, a busy restaurant, a phone call, a family gathering, have started to feel more tiring than enjoyable.

These are signs worth paying attention to.

For many people, changes in hearing don't arrive all at once. They creep in gradually. And with them, often quietly, comes an impact on mood, confidence, and mental wellbeing that's easy to overlook.

The connection most people missThe connection most people miss

The connection most people missThe connection most people miss

It's easy to dismiss changes in hearing as a minor inconvenience. Something to adjust to. Something that comes with age. But hearing health is rarely just about the ears.

Research continues to reveal how deeply untreated hearing loss can affect our emotional wellbeing. The impact doesn't announce itself. It builds slowly, through missed words, effortful conversations, and a gradual pulling back from situations that once felt easy and enjoyable.

Hearing loss is more than a loss of sound. It can be a serious loss of health.

Two of the most well-documented connections are with anxiety and depression, and each deserves a closer look.

Hearing loss and anxietyHearing loss and anxiety

Hearing loss and anxietyHearing loss and anxiety

When hearing becomes more difficult, everyday situations take more effort. For many people, that effort quietly translates into anxiety. Worry before social events, fear of misunderstanding others, and avoiding noisy places are all common signs. Many people experiencing these feelings don't connect them to their hearing at all. Research shows that between 15 and 30 percent of people with hearing impairment show clinically significant signs of anxiety1, with the risk higher for those with more severe hearing loss or tinnitus. → Learn more about[ hearing loss and anxiety](https://www.listentothis.com/en/hearing-loss/anxiety "Hearing Loss and Anxiety")

Hearing loss and depressionHearing loss and depression

Hearing loss and depressionHearing loss and depression

Social withdrawal is one of the most significant consequences of untreated hearing loss, and one of the most significant risk factors for depression2. When conversations become too effortful, many people gradually stop seeking them out. That loss of connection, from friends, family, and community, can contribute to feelings of loneliness, low mood, and depression. And as with anxiety, the relationship isn't one-directional. Depression can reduce motivation to seek hearing care, which allows hearing loss to go unaddressed for longer, deepening the cycle. Learn more about why addressing hearing loss and depression matters.

Are you noticing this in a loved one?Are you noticing this in a loved one?

Are you noticing this in a loved one?Are you noticing this in a loved one?

Sometimes it's the people closest to us who notice changes in hearing first. If someone you care about seems to struggle in conversations, asks for things to be repeated often, or has started withdrawing from situations they used to enjoy, it may be worth gently raising the topic.

Hearing loss can be easy to dismiss, especially when the change has been gradual. But raising the conversation with care, and without judgment, can make a real difference.

Learn more about how to start a conversation about hearing health.

Why acting early mattersWhy acting early matters

Why acting early mattersWhy acting early matters

The longer changes in hearing go unaddressed, the greater the risk to mental health and overall wellbeing. But the evidence also points somewhere more encouraging. Timely hearing intervention can make a real difference, not just to hearing, but to mood, confidence, social connection, and quality of life.

You don't need a diagnosis to take the first step.

The changes that go sometimes unnoticed

How the ear works

Nothing stays the same forever. Getting older comes with all sorts of changes.

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  1. The changes that go sometimes unnoticed
  2. The connection most people miss
  3. Hearing loss and anxiety
  4. Hearing loss and depression
  5. Are you noticing this in a loved one?
  6. Why acting early matters

A clearer path to feeling better

Your hearing and your wellbeing are closely connected. A free hearing test takes just a few minutes, and it's a simple first step toward feeling more like yourself.

Take our online hearing test

1 Dillard LK, Pinto A, Mueller KD, et al. Associations of hearing loss and hearing-aid use with cognition, health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms. J Aging Health. 2023;35:455-465. doi:10.1177/08982643221138162

2 Mahmoudi E, Zazove P, Meade M, et al. Can hearing aids delay time to diagnosis of dementia, depression, or falls in older adults? J Am Geriatr Soc. 2019;67:2362-2369. doi:10.1111/jgs.16109

3 Contrera KJ, Betz J, Deal JA, et al. Hearing impairment and anxiety in older adults. J Aging Health. 2017;29:172-184. doi:10.1177/0898264316634571

4 Wei J, Li Y, Gui X, et al. Association of hearing loss and risk of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neurol. 2024;15:1446262. doi:10.3389/fneur.2024.1446262

Are you a hearing health professional, or want to explore the research?

If you work in hearing care, or you're simply curious about the evidence behind these connections, our research pages bring together the latest studies and findings on hearing loss and mental health in depth.

Read the research on hearing loss and mental health
Read the research on hearing loss and mental health

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The effort of listening in difficult situations, fear of miscommunication, and gradual loss of social connection all take a toll on wellbeing over time. Many people don't connect these feelings to their hearing.

Untreated hearing loss is closely linked to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. Hearing health is not just about the ears. It shapes how we connect, communicate, and feel day to day.

Start by understanding where your hearing stands. A quick online test takes just a few minutes and tells you whether it's worth speaking to a professional.

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Supported by:

  • GN
  • CHBC
  • Danish Dementia Research Centre
  • NAL
  • US Against Alzheimer's
  • Stanford Medicine
  • AARP

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