Hearing loss has been associated with a variety of comorbidities including anxiety, dementia, and even cardiovascular health. And between the social isolation and stress it can cause, it's no surprise that hearing loss is also linked to depression. A new study from Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery reveals just how prevalent this link is. 

The study, published this week, investigated the association between hearing loss and depression using a large electronic health record (EMR) system. Audiometric data from patients 18 and older was collected from the data base from the years 2020-2023. Hearing loss was defined using a variety of hearing test metrics, including pure tone audiometry (PTA), and depression was defined using ICD-10 code or antidepressant use. 

The study found that for every 10-dB worsening of hearing per PTA, the odds of having major depressive disorder increased by 1.04 times.

These results are significant to our understanding of the relationship between hearing loss and depression. Datasets for both hearing loss and mental health are limited, so the use of a large EMR greatly expands our knowledge of these comorbidities in a wide population. Further, these results can help clinicians prepare for the risk of mental health comorbidities among patients with hearing loss.

To read the full study, click here.