Hearing plays a very important role in our personal and professional life, and even our physical health. Hearing is something that most of us take for granted and we only realize its importance once it actually starts getting affected. Unfortunately, some people have a number of issues that affect their hearing ability. In this article, we will talk about how hearing loss affects one’s quality of life.

Social Consequences

The way we interact with people plays a big role in our lives. There are so many studies out there that have revealed how hearing loss can lead to negative social experiences. Let’s have a look at some of them:

Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations

Hearing also affects speech. People suffering from hearing impairment start facing difficulty in their ability to talk as well. Often times, the affected person feels embarrassed because they can’t keep up with the conversation and cannot ask others to speak loudly or to repeat themselves again and again. Eventually, the person starts avoiding social interactions.

Feeling of Loneliness

Since the person starts withdrawing from social situations, it leads to loneliness and in some cases, social rejection because most people don’t understand that the affected person wants them to speak slowly or repeat what they say.

Psychological Consequences

Some common mental and psychological difficulties that people face include:

Stress

Studies have shown that people with impaired hearing suffer from high levels of stress that often leads to the risk of heart diseases and even cancer.

Depression

People with hearing loss tend to get depressed as they experience poor quality of sleep, lack of energy and a lack of interest in activities that they previously used to enjoy.

Diminished Psychological and Overall Health

All parts of our body have a connection with each other, so when a person suffers physically, they are psychologically affected as well and experience a lack of peace and enjoyment in their lives.

Physical Consequences of Hearing Loss

When we can’t hear, we lose important information that we need. Hearing loss can lead to the following issues:

Poses a Risk to Personal Safety

When people are not able to hear, they actually lose their ability to pick helpful cues from their surroundings and this poses a threat to their personal safety. Some of these cues include vehicle approaching, fire alarms, and other safety issues.

Reduced Job Performance and Earning Power

When people start losing their hearing, it affects their ability to have a conversation, which can affect their career.

Long-Term Effects on Brain Function and Memory

Studies have shown that hearing loss also affects one’s cognitive abilities. Hearing helps us to recall things, so a lack of hearing can affect our memory.

How Hearing Treatment Helps

Hearing loss treatment helps with the following:

  • Communication in relationships
  • Earning power
  • Ease of communication
  • Emotional stability
  • Group social participation
  • Intimacy and warmth in family relationships
  • Perception of mental functioning
  • Physical health
  • Sense of control over life events