​Hearing loss and depression are more connected than many people realize. Research shows untreated hearing loss can lead to social isolation, communication challenges, and emotional struggles. These issues often contribute to feelings of sadness and even clinical depression. Understanding this connection provides valuable insights on hearing loss and depression—and how to prevent or manage it.

Hearing loss affects more than your ears. When communication becomes difficult, it’s common to withdraw from conversations or avoid social events altogether. This isolation can create feelings of loneliness, frustration, and eventually depression. Studies also link hearing challenges to cognitive decline, which can worsen mental health over time.

Hearing loss and depression are closely linked, creating a cycle that can profoundly impact your well-being. When untreated, hearing challenges often lead to social isolation, feelings of frustration, and emotional struggles, eventually contributing to depression. Northumberland Hearing Center recommends the following tips.

• Regular Hearing Screenings - ​​Monitoring your hearing is crucial for early detection. Many solutions work best when hearing issues are caught early.
• Staying Social - ​Stay connected to friends and family. Social interactions reduce loneliness, keeping your mood stable and healthy.
• Using Hearing Devices - Modern hearing devices are advanced and discreet. They significantly improve communication, restoring confidence and reducing stress.
• Seeking Emotional Support - Talking with loved ones about your struggles can ease the emotional toll. Support groups also help combat feelings of isolation.

Recent breakthroughs reveal promising solutions. Brain stimulation therapies, cognitive training, and new hearing device technologies are helping people manage both hearing loss and depression. Experts are also studying how wearable devices can track emotional changes in real-time, providing valuable data to prevent depression.
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For more information, check resources like Hearing Loss Association of America.

​Maintaining good mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. In our busy and often stressful lives, it can be easy to overlook the need for emotional well-being. However, nurturing your mental health helps you cope with life's challenges, enhances your overall happiness, and improves your relationships. Whether you're managing stress, trying to stay positive, or simply aiming for a balanced life, there are simple yet effective strategies you can adopt. 

​Mindfulness is the practice of staying present and fully engaged in the moment, without judgment. It can help you manage stress, anxiety, and even physical discomfort. By focusing on your breath, sensations, and surroundings, you can calm your mind and reduce the tension that builds up throughout the day. Regular mindfulness exercises, such as meditation or deep breathing, can lower cortisol levels, which are linked to stress. Incorporating mindfulness into your routine can improve your emotional well-being and help you respond to stress more effectively.

​Keeping your mind active is crucial for maintaining cognitive health. Engaging in hobbies, such as reading, gardening, painting, or learning a new skill, offers an enjoyable way to stimulate your brain. Hobbies can also help reduce feelings of boredom or restlessness, providing a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Whether it's crafting, solving puzzles, or exploring new interests, hobbies provide a break from daily routines and can keep your mental faculties sharp. By consistently pursuing activities you enjoy, you’re giving your mind the exercise it needs to stay healthy and alert.

If you're feeling down for an extended period or experiencing symptoms of depression, it's important to seek professional advice. Early intervention can prevent the situation from worsening. Symptoms such as persistent sadness, loss of interest in daily activities, changes in sleep or appetite, and feelings of hopelessness are all signs that professional help may be needed. Speaking with a counselor, therapist, or doctor can provide valuable support, guidance, and treatment options. Addressing mental health concerns early can lead to better outcomes and a more balanced, fulfilling life.

​Insights on hearing loss and depression highlight the importance of addressing these challenges proactively. Prevention, support, and staying informed are the keys to a healthy, fulfilling life. 

Hearing loss that stays untreated could leave you with severe consequences to your health and quality of life. Every time you hear something, your brain gets exercise. Not receiving help for hearing loss can worsen a patient’s cognitive performance because it shrinks and atrophies the brain. More cases of falls due to imbalance, hospitalizations for these outcomes, and a high risk of depression and dementia caused by social isolation - this may occur due to the challenges that come with communicating while having hearing problems.   

Your ability to appreciate TV, movies, music, and nature can be futile due to difficulties with hearing. You’ll begin to feel excluded. The inability to hear can also throw you into an unsafe environment. If you can’t hear a car or emergency vehicle driving in your direction, that can put you and the driver at risk of a collision. Completing tasks at work might be more challenging, and missteps can reoccur. As a result, your income can be affected.        

It’s common for people with hearing loss to be in denial over their hearing problems. Instead of seeking help immediately, they’ll ask others to repeat themselves or raise the volume level to whatever they are listening to. Other practical reasons why people may not seek help immediately, or at all, is because they cannot afford it or don’t have health insurance. 

A network of support from family, friends, and healthcare providers is necessary for starting their lives toward better hearing. 

Things You Can Do for a Loved One with Hearing Loss

Simply be available. This person might need you to listen to their frustrations about hearing and communicating, or maybe there was an incident they need to vent about. You could “be their ears” in social situations if they mishear something or completely miss out on what was said. Be patient and supportive, even if you have no clue what they are experiencing with their struggles. 

Point Out that their Hearing Loss also Affects You.

Give a gentle reminder about how you and others who interact with them are also affected by their hearing loss. Whether it’s the need to repeat themselves or safety issues - the inability to hear warning sirens, oncoming vehicles, or news/weather alerts. 

How You Can Help a Loved One with their Hearing 

1. Help them schedule a hearing test.
2. Accompany them at their appointments for the hearing test and hearing aid fitting. 
3. See a local hearing healthcare/hearing aid provider. They will administer a thorough hearing test and offer the appropriate treatment options for your hearing needs.   

Don’t Delay Receiving Help 

Like any health issue, the longer you wait to seek a diagnosis and treatment, the more challenging it will be to treat. Untreated hearing loss becomes progressive, which can mean expensive medical care or no treatment options. 
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Contact Northumberland Hearing Center for a hearing evaluation and consultation.   

If your hearing isn’t as good as it used to be, a loved one’s voice, music, or nature might not sound like it used to. You can enjoy these sounds again with a great pair of hearing aids. 

If you’ve put off receiving hearing aids for too long, wearing hearing aids and hearing sounds that you haven’t heard in years can be overstimulating to the ears and brain. Don’t let this discourage you from wearing them every day. Adapting to hearing aids takes time and patience.

What Should You Notice within the First Few Weeks? 

Based on your range of hearing loss, noises around you can sound stifled, or you can’t identify every noise and where it’s coming from. Hearing aids can be programmed so you can focus on sounds in front of you, sounds coming from behind you, or sounds coming from all directions. As you familiarize yourself with the hearing aids, everyday noises may sound louder than usual. The sound of your own voice and other ordinary noises could sound unusual.

When it comes to hearing aids, there are certain things that you’ll need to familiarize yourself with.        

1. You will need to get used to the physical feeling of having a hearing aid resting inside or on your ears. 
2. Since most people wait too long to receive help for their hearing, they may have experienced too many years of poor hearing. As a result, your brain needs to become acclimated to recognizing and processing sounds again. Most people with normal hearing can tune out background noise. But this can be challenging for new hearing aid users. As you adapt to hearing these sounds again, your brain will re-train itself to suppress background noises and concentrate on conversations that need your attention. It will require patience. Most hearing aid users don’t even notice they are wearing anything in their ears after a few weeks or months.     
3. Wearing your hearing aids for the entire day is suggested but not required during your initial wear time. If the sounds you hear are overstimulating, take a break from the hearing aids for as long as necessary. Begin by wearing them for a couple of hours each day. Slowly increase the time you wear them every day until you can wear them from when you wake up to when you go to bed.

Handle Hearing Aids with Care

For a smooth adjustment to your hearing aids, get acquainted with the devices. Get the basics from your hearing aid provider. Learn to properly insert and remove your hearing aids, and practice daily. There are special maintenance and cleaning practices for your hearing devices, so ensure that your provider goes over those with you. Test the hearing aid’s settings and focus on the differences in various environments. 

Hearing Aid Usage at Home      

Begin to wear your hearing aids in a quiet indoor area at home. It makes it easier to distinguish and recognize sounds without uncontrollable background noises.

After doing this, try going outside for a walk. Wearing hearing aids outdoors is a different experience. You’ll have the opportunity to concentrate on many different and quiet sounds, minus the distracting background noises.     

Having a Conversation

Your initial conversation while donning hearing aids should take place in a casual setting. At the most, you should only be speaking to two people in a distraction-free space. You can explain how your hearing loss has shifted your communication style and what they can do to ease conversations with them.     

The Best 3 Ways to Have a Conversation if There’s Background Noise

1. Choose an optimum setting for listening. A hearing aid’s microphone usually rests on top or front of the device. It can be challenging to hear someone if the person is sitting next to you or off to the side. Sit or stand facing the opposite of the person you speak to. Position yourselves face to face if possible, and require reading lips.
2. If there’s a group discussion, participants should speak clearly. One person should speak at a time. People often rush through conversations, so don’t feel discouraged if you can’t follow everything. Just ask someone for a summary of the discussion. 
3. Observe everyone’s facial expressions and body language. If you speak with someone, look at their mouth and see how their body language changes while they talk. Your brain subconsciously does this to understand mumbled words. It takes practice, so anyone can train themselves to do this. 

How to Deal with Loud Surroundings

After getting acquainted with your hearing aids, wear them in an area with a lot of background noise. You can check your ability to isolate background noises and handle conversations in these environments. 

The New Experience of Better Hearing

When you can hear better with your new hearing aids, as mentioned before, the initial experience will most likely be unpleasant. Hearing the sound of your own voice can be alarming due to the occlusion effect. It’s when a person hears their own voice as sounding “booming” or “hollow” with echo-like noises. According to some hearing aid users, it’s like talking while being in a large barrel. This occlusion effect occurs when bone-conducted sound vibrations reverberate throughout the ear canal. It can intensify low frequencies. Some have also described it as “your own voice resonating in your head.” The solution is to ask your hearing instrument specialist to change the amplification and ventilation ratios. 
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If you are experiencing hearing loss and need an evaluation and hearing aids, contact Northumberland Hearing Center for a consultation.​

Good news those who are wondering if hearing aids are tax deductible? Hearing aids are tax-deductible when listed as a medical expense. According to the IRS, this tax deduction applies to any hearing aid user who spends over 7.5% of their income on medical and dental bills and if they itemize their medical expenses. 
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If your medical expenses typically go undocumented, but you paid a hefty bill for a hospital stay or surgery last year, discuss this with a professional tax advisor. Determine whether itemizing your medical expenses would be beneficial for you this year. Additionally, if you anticipate significant medical expenses this year, use this time to determine if you or your spouse will need hearing aids. You can deduct them from next year’s tax return.   

Expenses Deducted for Hearing Healthcare

If you itemize medical and dental expenses with a Schedule A Form 1040, these hearing health-related medical expenses may be deductible:

• Any hearing aid model.
• Hearing aids, hearing aid accessories, and hearing aid batteries.
• Hearing aid insurance premiums and other medical insurance.
• Cost of transportation to appointments, which include hearing aid fittings and adjustments. 

Deduct other Hearing Loss-related costs from Your Taxes.

Remember to include the following hearing-related deductions if you are planning to itemize medical expenses:

• Receiving repairs for hearing aids.
• Accessories and expenditures that are linked to phone usage.
• Additional equipment can make hearing/enjoying the TV better.
• Home modifications/upgrades include doorbells, and smoke and burglar alarms, specifically for people with hearing loss. 
• For chronic medical problems, if you attend a conference related to your condition, it can be deducted. It does not include meals or lodging. 

Are You a Caregiver for Someone who uses Hearing Aids?

If anyone in your household purchased hearing aids last year, the cost of the hearing aids might be deducted from your taxes if claimed as an independent. If you don’t know whether you qualify for this tax break, contact a tax professional or an accountant.

What coverage can I get?  

The IRS provides a helpful guide online so you can determine your coverage. This resource will ask you questions about your situation so that you may take the appropriate steps while filing your taxes. 

If you need documentation for hearing aids purchased from Northumberland Hearing Center last year, contact us. If you are overdue for a hearing exam, contact us.  

When you go to a restaurant, you may observe some problems with the venue. There could be a long wait time or trouble with seating arrangements/the general atmosphere. 

A common issue is the noise level inside restaurants. You’ll hear others talking, plates and glasses clinking, blaring music, and seats scraping against the floor. Open kitchens are generally found in many restaurants these days. The transparency of an open kitchen may also have loud chefs communicating with each other. 

As Valentine's Day comes up, consider some potential problems when selecting a restaurant if you, or your significant other, struggle with hearing. 

7 Hearing Loss Tips for Restaurants

1. Decide where to go. 

Take the noise levels of a restaurant into consideration.  

Find a restaurant adorned with low ceilings, carpeting, heavy drapes, and a kitchen that isn’t in plain view of diners. These elements will reduce the echo of voices and other noises that fill the room and hinder the ability to hear. 

Restaurant reviews are beginning to add noise and lighting ratings, so look at them when choosing where to go if you are worried about noise levels and whether you’ll be able to see people’s faces in specific lighting. 

2. Make sure the person speaking is facing you. 

Getting the best seat might be tricky, but being able to see the person you’ll mainly be talking with is necessary for a comfortable conversation. No matter what range of hearing abilities you have, bustling atmospheres require the ability to read facial expressions and lips while also being able to see people’s gestures. Making sure the space is effortless in allowing you to view the speaker’s face will create an environment for better communication, so lighting is also crucial.  

If you’re having difficulty hearing, sit with your back against a wall. You’ll also need to make sure you have a good view. Don’t sit facing a window with the sun shining through. It will make seeing the speaker sitting opposite of you more challenging.   

3. Timing is important. Plan your date after the lunch rush or before the dinner rush.  

A smaller crowd of people = less noise.

4. Don't just nod and smile if your didn't hear what your date said.

Whenever necessary, ask others to repeat themselves. A healthy relationship requires better communication. If you need more clarity on something, just ask. Pretending to hear others is not a good habit. It will confuse and create arguments between each of you.  

5. Put your hearing aids on. 

If you have and need to wear your hearing aids, put them on. They’re a lifesaver in restaurants. If you hear background noises, ask your hearing aid provider to program a restaurant setting that you can switch on. It should only amplify the voices of the speakers nearby - for instance, members of your dining party or the wait staff. Eliminating feedback noises can be accomplished with the help of a professional hearing instrument specialist.    

Before leaving, check the battery level. Hearing aids with disposable batteries will release signals when they are close to being depleted. Make sure you always have extra batteries on hand. You’ll remain connected to the communication grid even during a power outage. If you use rechargeable hearing aids, charge them based on the manufacturers’ recommendations.

6. Don't worry. 

Most restaurants are loud, so you probably won’t be the only person who can’t hear. The frustration may remain, but that’s okay. Be calm. Take a breath. Stand up for yourself because others might not. Be honest about your needs, be prepared beforehand, and enjoy the food and company. 

7. Use the SoundPrint app  

Gregory Scott, a hearing aid user who lives in New York City, came up with a solution. He developed the SoundPrint app. This is a free iPhone app that some have called the "Yelp for Noise.”

How does it work? 

If you need help hearing the person/people you are with in crowded areas, use the SoundPrint app and search for a quiet restaurant or public venue that would make it easier to have a conversation. 

Like a Yelp review, the app gathers data from users who rank and review these spaces. The data gauges the volume and classifies the venues as quiet, moderate, or loud. 

SoundPrint’s app lets users research to inspect the noise levels of the local bars, coffee shops, and restaurants. A sound level meter within the app measures noise. Any user can assess the noise levels in a particular spot and submit the measurements to the SoundPrint database. The more submissions that the database receives, the stronger it becomes. That is what makes it more reliable. 

Anyone with any range of hearing can use the SoundPrint App. 

In general, the world keeps getting louder and louder. It has become almost impossible to find a quiet place to visit. Most modern restaurants focus on fun and entertainment.

The interior designs feature material that does not absorb sound as easily. Hardwood floors, concrete, brick, and tile combined with the lack of drapes or tablecloths allow noises to bounce off these surfaces instead of being absorbed. A study showed that venues crank up the music because consumers tend to buy more drinks or eat quickly, leading to higher turnovers.   

The danger in normalizing loud noises is a hazard to your hearing, no matter how good your hearing may seem. Everyone can benefit from the SoundPrint App. 
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If you are noticing frustrations with hearing in loud or quiet spaces, contact us at Northumberland Hearing Center for a hearing evaluation.