The American Psychological Association (APA) just released a report citing multiple study findings that hearing loss may be associated with mental illness. The report provides evidence that people usually wait on average up to six years to seek treatment for any possible hearing loss. The lack of medical attention is partially due to people’s lack of awareness into the signs of hearing loss that can occur. However, over this time, as people lose more hearing, many of these people develop depression and forms of social anxiety. The APA report contributes such depression and anxiety to a difficulty with communicating, resulting in those with hearing loss withdrawing from their usual social activities.
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