Hearing loss and voice disorders increase the risk of depression: Study
A recent study published in the The Laryngoscope identified significant links between hearing loss, voice disorders and depression. This research utilized data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) to highlight the underexplored relationship between expressive communication impairments, like dysphonia and mental health.
The study analyzed data from over 8,500 individuals aged 19 to 80 years which was collected across two periods: 2008-2012 and 2019-2020. This comprehensive dataset from KNHANES included both audiometry and self-reported voice disorder information which allowed for a robust examination of the impacts on mental health.
The key findings of this study were;
Individuals with hearing loss, defined as a pure tone average of ≥25 dB, showed a 27% increased likelihood of depression when compared to the individuals without hearing loss. This finding illuminates the significant mental health risk associated with receptive communication impairments.
Self-reported voice disorders were found to be an even stronger predictor of depression where the affected individuals underwent a 48% higher chance of being diagnosed with depression. This emphasizes the pivotal role of expressive communication in mental well-being.
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