Experiencing or being diagnosed with hearing loss can bring up many feelings, including anxiety. You may find yourself overwhelmed with worry, wondering things like:
- Will my hearing get worse?
- What if I can’t understand what’s being said at work?
- What if my hearing aid battery dies while I’m out?
- What if I embarrass myself because I misunderstand what someone says?
Your anxious thoughts can be completely related to your hearing loss, or you might find them spilling over into other aspects of your life. Anxiety can cause you to withdraw from activities where you’re around other people like going to the movies or Grant Park Farmers Market.
Common Anxiety Symptoms
Anxiety can manifest itself in different ways. The symptoms that some people experience may not be the same that you experience. Some of the more commonly reported anxiety symptoms are:
- Feelings of dread or impending doom
- Increased heart rate
- Shaking or trembling
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Feeling like you can’t breathe or are hyperventilating
- Feeling restless
- Obsessive thoughts
- Nausea
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble focusing
Because some anxiety symptoms can mimic other serious conditions, it’s important to seek medical attention and rule out other causes.
Research on Hearing Loss and Anxiety
A study published in 2018 observed 3,928 adults aged 65 and older over a 12-year period. It examined how both hearing loss and vision loss affected anxiety symptoms. Interestingly, increased anxiety symptoms were found in older adults with hearing loss, but not those with vision loss. A potential reason why may be that people feel more comfortable with the idea of needing glasses as opposed to hearing aids.
Tinnitus Can Make Anxiety Worse
Tinnitus affects an estimated 50 million Americans. It is described as a ringing, buzzing, hissing, roaring or whooshing sound in the ear. Many people experience both tinnitus and hearing loss, and research suggest that tinnitus can make anxiety symptoms more severe.
A review looked at 25 different studies examining anxiety levels in people with hearing loss. It found that higher anxiety levels were tied to both tinnitus and more severe hearing loss.
Hearing Aids and Other Anxiety Treatments
The good news about anxiety is that there are many effective treatments available.
If you have untreated hearing loss or tinnitus, one of the best ways to reduce anxiety is to treat those conditions. Hearing aids and/or tinnitus management can reduce your symptoms and help bring you peace of mind.
Additionally, there are many other treatments that can help you manage your anxiety including:
- Seeing a counselor who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Medications
- Breathing exercises
- Mediation and yoga
- Reducing or eliminating caffeine from your diet
If you are experiencing any symptoms of anxiety, the most important thing to do is reach out for help. If your anxiety is related to hearing loss call Advanced Hearing and speak with a hearing expert today.