Hearing loss and voice disorders increase the risk of depression: Study

The participants who suffered from both hearing loss and a voice disorder underwent the highest risk. They were nearly 1.8 times more likely to undergo depression when compared to the individuals with neither impairment. This suggests a compounded effect where difficulties in both receiving and expressing communication significantly impact the mental health.

These findings reveal the substantial mental health risks posed by both hearing loss and voice disorders. While hearing loss has been previously acknowledged as a risk factor for depression, this research illuminates the significant yet overlooked impact of the voice disorders. The combination of these impairments poses an even greater risk that is likely due to the cumulative difficulty in both incoming and outgoing communication.

The outcomes of this study suggest that these results highlight the need for comprehensive healthcare strategies that address both types of communication impairments. Integrating mental health support with auditory and speech therapies could be beneficial in reducing the risk of depression among the affected individuals.

Overall, this study offers crucial insights into the interplay between communication disorders and mental health. This demonstration of the independent and combined effects of hearing loss and voice disorders on depression could pave way for more holistic approaches to treat, prevent and ensure better mental health outcomes for the individuals with communication impairments.

Reference:

Rameau, A., Tucker, L. H., Denham, M. W., Kang, Y. J., Choi, N., Lachs, M., Rosen, T. E., Stewart, M., Czaja, S., & Golub, J. S. (2024). Voice Disorders and Hearing Loss May Be Additive Risk Factors for Depression in a National Cohort. In The Laryngoscope. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.31536