Discovering you have hearing loss can feel overwhelming. Suddenly, you’re faced with thoughts about how it might impact your daily life, which treatment options to explore and how to navigate this new reality. It’s natural for these uncertainties to trigger anxiety, a common response that can manifest as restlessness, tension and a racing heart. Anxiety, while meant to protect us from danger, can also arise from modern stressors like stressful communication challenges.
Let’s explore the link between hearing loss and anxiety and offer strategies to ease your mind.
How Can Hearing Loss Cause Anxiety?
A 2019 review of 25 studies revealed that individuals with hearing loss experience higher levels of anxiety compared to those with normal hearing. Hearing loss and anxiety can fuel each other in a challenging cycle. If you’ve struggled with anxiety for a long time, you may worry that your hearing loss will negatively affect your ability to interact with others. This fear can lead to avoiding social situations, which only deepens feelings of isolation.
On the other hand, hearing loss can trigger anxiety. When faced with communication difficulties, it’s easy for anxiety to take over. You may start to think that people are judging you or waiting for you to make a mistake. When these feelings take over, normal conversations can overwhelm you. Everyday interactions that were once simple may become stressful, heightening anxiety. If you were already prone to anxiety before your hearing loss, adjusting to these new challenges can make it even harder to manage.
How Can I Manage Anxiety?
There are a few tools that can help you minimize feelings of anxiety as you get used to life with hearing loss, including:
- Wear hearing aids. While hearing aids are not a treatment for anxiety, they can help give you communication confidence. These tiny devices collect and amplify speech to help you engage in conversations without overwhelming stress and anxiety. Many devices even have background noise suppression technology, allowing you to enjoy social outings as quiet as day in Rockport Marine Park or as bustling as a busy dinner.
- Talk to your friends. It’s important to share your feelings, even the negative ones, with the people in your life. By explaining your anxiety and asking for a bit of patience and understanding, you can enjoy social situations without heightening your sense of anxiety.
- Consider therapy. Therapy and counseling can help you get to the root of your anxieties and equip you with effective coping techniques. If your anxieties about hearing loss are taking over your life, consider scheduling an introductory therapy appointment.
Remember, feelings of anxiety around your hearing loss diagnosis are normal, but taking proactive steps can help. Contact Gary D. Schwartzberg, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology today to discuss your hearing loss treatment options with one of our specialists.