Treating hearing loss may prevent depression

Treating age-related hearing loss, which is often under-treated among all elderly, can help stave off late-life depression, scientists say. The study, published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, found that with age-related hearing loss had more symptoms of depression.

However, there are few large studies asking whether hearing loss may lead to depression in the elderly – particularly in Hispanics, a group in which depression may be underdiagnosed because of language and cultural barriers.

The researchers analysed health data from 5,239 individuals over age 50. Each participant had an audiometric hearing test – an objective way to assess hearing loss – and was screened for depression. They found that individuals with mild hearing loss were almost twice as likely to have clinically significant symptoms of depression than those with normal hearing.