Severe-to-Profound Hearing Loss and Mental Health: Initial Evidence that
Cochlear Implantation Helps Alleviate Symptoms of Anxiety and Stress
Abstract
Objectives: Mental-health issues accounted for 418 million
disability-adjusted life years in 2019, costing the world economy
approximately US$5 trillion. Untreated hearing loss is a well-known
modifiable risk factor for mental-health issues, with severe-to-profound
hearing loss having the largest impact. Therefore, treatment of
severe-to-profound hearing loss, namely with cochlear implantation,
could help to alleviate psychological distress. However, previous
studies have failed to include comprehensive measures of mental health
or adequate controls. The current study thus aimed to conduct a
controlled, longitudinal investigation of how cochlear implantation
affects depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Participants:
Participants were 87 adults assigned to conditions based on hearing
status: normal hearing ( n = 44), received cochlear implant (
n = 26), or untreated hearing loss ( n = 17). Main
Outcome Measures: The short-form Depression Anxiety Stress Scale was
given at four timepoints (baseline, three months, six months, 12
months). Data were analysed with linear mixed-effects modelling.
Results: Results showed that cochlear implants helped to
stabilise anxiety and stress symptoms, while depression symptoms were
observed to worsen over time despite treatment. Conclusion: Our
findings suggest that treatment of severe-to-profound hearing loss with
cochlear implantation can help to alleviate associated anxiety and
stress symptoms; associated depressive symptoms did not benefit. Due to
the current study’s non-randomised treatment allocation, future
randomised controlled trials are required for confirmation. The present
findings help inform clinical and societal interventions for
mental-health issues associated with hearing loss.