<p>Depression in elderly patients with hearing loss: current perspectives</p>

Abstract

Hearing loss (HL) is highly common in older adulthood, constituting the third most prevalent chronic health condition in this population. In addition to posing a substantial burden to disease and negatively impacting quality of life, an emerging literature highlights that HL is associated with unipolar depression including among older adults. This review outlines evidence examining the HL and depression relationship as well as clinical implications for assessment and treatment of comorbid depression and HL. Although prevalence estimates of comorbid depression in HL vary, as many as 1 in 5 experience clinically relevant depression symptoms. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies indicate that HL is related to increased unipolar depression symptoms, although the strength of the association varies between studies. A range of methodological variations, such as inclusion age, severity of HL and assessment of depression, likely underpin this heterogeneity. Overall, however, the evidence clearly points to an association of HL with clinically relevant depression symptoms. The association with the diagnosis of major depression disorder remains less clear and under-researched. HL is also associated with a range of other poor mental health outcomes in older adults, including anxiety and suicidal ideation, and predicts poorer cognitive functioning. Accordingly, assessment and treatment of comorbid depression in HL is pertinent to promote mental well-being among older adults. Currently, evidence regarding best practice for treating depression in HL remains scant. Preliminary evidence indicates that audiological rehabilitation, including use of hearing aids, as well as community-based hearing interventions can also improve mental health. Psychological intervention that enhances communication skills and addresses coping strategies might also be beneficial for this population. Additionally, evidence suggests that online interventions are feasible and may circumvent communication difficulties in therapy associated with HL. Due to poor help-seeking among this population, an enhanced focus on specific and targeted assessment and treatment is likely necessary to ensure reduced mental health burden among older adults with HL.

Association of anxiety and depression with physical and sensory functional difficulties in adults in five population-based surveys in low and middle-income countries

“…For instance, studies across the globe have demonstrated that people with visual impairment are more likely to experience depression [7,8], and there appears to be a doseresponse relationship with more severe visual impairment linked to a higher prevalence of depression [9]. People with physical impairments or hearing loss are also more likely to report poorer mental health, including depression [3,[10][11][12][13][14]. The likely pathway for these associations is that people with sensory or physical impairments experience difficulties in activities and functioning, which have consequences for reduced perceived control, lower social connectedness, and worse financial circumstances, which all increase the risk of depression and other mental health conditions [2,[15][16][17].…”

Neuropsychological profile of hearing-impaired patients and the effect of hearing aid on cognitive functions: an exploratory study

“…hearing impaired with hearing aids and HC. In the elderly population with HL, up to 20% of subjects report a clinically relevant level of depressive symptoms that would require treatment 40 . Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies indicate that HL is related to the increase in depressive symptoms, although the strength of the association varies between studies.…”

The Relationship Between Depression and Cognitive Deterioration in Elderly Persons

“…On the other hand, institutionalization in residences is associated with factors that can favor the appearance of depressive symptoms and can increase the prevalence of this problem. This is combined with the comorbidity of diseases and decreased health in the older persons (Landi et al, 2004) which is also associated with the onset of depression, especially disorders related to the deficiency of some sense (Camacho-Conde, 2009;Cosh et al,, 2019;Chou & Chi, 2004;Kim et al,, 2011;Singh & Lee, 2019;Wu et al, 2017) or urinary incontinence (Boi et al, 2012). Also, hearing loss increases the risk of neurocognitive impairment (Loughrey et al, 2020).…”