As we head into the post-holiday season and coldest months of the year, lots of us experience the “winter blues” — feeling down or depressed. But there could be another cause contributing to depression and other health problems: Hearing loss. For many people with hearing loss, social situations can become frustrating and even embarrassing when it’s difficult to hear. You … Read More
Depression and Hearing Loss—What’s the Link?
Most people think of the holidays as a happy time, celebrating with family and friends at festive gatherings. But those same classic holiday images can be stressful for many, sometimes triggering the mood disorder, depression. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects more than 120 million people worldwide. Depression can have profound effects on quality of life, impairing cognitive … Read More
The Role of Stress in Tinnitus
There is a strong association between stress and tinnitus. Read on for tips on how to reduce stress and when you should contact a health professional for help. According to the American Tinnitus Association (ATA), millions of Americans experience tinnitus, making it one of the most common health conditions in the U.S. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication … Read More
Misophonia—A Rare Sound Sensitivity Condition
According to the American Tinnitus Association, there’s a rare and selective sound sensitivity condition called misophonia. Translated, misophonia means, “hatred of sound.” The condition involves a chronic, abnormal negative emotional reaction to specific sounds. The most common triggers include those generated by the mouth (chewing gum or food, popping lips), the nose (breathing, sniffing, and blowing) or the fingers (typing, … Read More
Is There a Connection Between Hearing Loss and Emotional Health?
According to the World Health Organization, 2 billion people in the world will be 60 years old or older by 2050. As the number of older adults increases, so do the health conditions affecting this population, including hearing loss and its documented connection to emotional health, depression and social isolation. Recently, a cross-sectional study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience … Read More