{"id":2737,"date":"2022-02-09T17:00:50","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T22:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/augustaent.com\/?p=2737"},"modified":"2022-02-09T17:00:52","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T22:00:52","slug":"how-hearing-loss-can-isolate-you-make-you-feel-lonely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/augustaent.com\/how-hearing-loss-can-isolate-you-make-you-feel-lonely\/","title":{"rendered":"How Hearing Loss Can Isolate You & Make You Feel Lonely"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If there\u2019s one thing we can all agree on about this pandemic, it\u2019s that it\u2019s been an incredibly lonely time. From closures of bars and restaurants to cancellation of social events, and from social distancing to full quarantine, most of us have suffered from increased feelings of loneliness over the past two years. This is especially true for people with hearing loss, for whom communication through masks is especially challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loneliness Vs. Social Isolation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Before diving into this topic, it\u2019s important to tease apart the differences between loneliness and social isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social isolation occurs when someone doesn\u2019t have much social contact. This is a measurable factor, as you can tally up how many social interactions a person has per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loneliness, on the other hand, is a feeling. You can feel lonely whether you\u2019re home by yourself or in a bustling crowd. You can also feel fulfilled with few social interactions or crave more. Loneliness is essentially the gap between the amount of connections you actually have compared to how many you\u2019d like to experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no doubt that, for many, hearing loss<\/a> leads to fewer social interactions, which can in turn spark feelings of loneliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Loneliness Epidemic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. was experiencing a loneliness epidemic long before COVID-19 hit our shores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February of 2021, a report<\/a> from Making Caring Common stated that 36% of all Americans experience serious loneliness. This is especially true for people with hearing loss; one frequently-cited study<\/a> found that for each decibel decrease in hearing perception, the odds of developing severe loneliness increases by 7%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can have serious impacts. According to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), loneliness may be as damaging to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day<\/a>. The CDC reports that it increases rates of depression, anxiety and suicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Importance of Treating Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While more research is needed on how hearing aids can help alleviate feelings of loneliness, many experts have shared anecdotal evidence about how hearing aids change their patients\u2019 lives for the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because hearing aids make communication easier. And when you can hear without having to strain or ask people to repeat themselves, you\u2019re much more likely to rejoin activities you once loved, like Paint and sip Augusta<\/a>. To learn more or to schedule an appointment<\/a> with a hearing expert, call Augusta – Aiken ENT & Allergy<\/span> today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n