The research: Researchers from the National Institutes of Health interviewed 18,318 people ages 18 and older, tested their hearing, and administered standardized depression questionnaires. What they found: The risk of moderate to severe depression was about 5% for individuals with excellent hearing, 7% for those with good hearing, and 11% for those with some hearing impairment. The prevalence of depression increased as hearing impairment became worse, except among participants who were completely deaf. What it means: “Hearing impairment tends to isolate people from friends and family because of a decreased ability to communicate,” says study author Chuan-Ming Li, MD, PhD. Feeling less connected can impact your psychological well-being and overall health, which could contribute to depression. More research is needed to understand why the effect is more pronounced in women. The bottom line: If you notice any of these symptoms you could have hearing impairment: muffling of speech and other sounds; frequently asking others to speak more slowly and loudly; listening to the TV or radio at higher volumes than in the past; difficulty understanding what people are saying especially in noisy environments; or avoiding conversations and social interactions. If you have hearing impairment talk to your doctor and be open to trying tools that could improve your hearing such as hearing aids, Dr. Li says. “The earlier you treat hearing impairment, the more you may reduce your risk of developing depression.” More from Prevention: Natural Remedies For Depression
