There have been some studies going around that link social isolation with some truly alarming statistics, like the CNN Health article about a 2023 study that found people experiencing social isolation had a 32% higher risk of premature death.
This comprehensive meta-analysis examined 90 studies and over two million adults that provided some compelling (and worrying!) evidence about loneliness’s link to serious health outcomes.
While reading this study and hearing about many others, my attention turned to hearing loss and its links to social isolation – hearing loss challenges often significantly impact your ability to communicate well, and if you’re struggling to follow the conversation around you, you might feel anxious in social situations and want to avoid them altogether.
When you’re in a busy environment, such as a restaurant or a bar, how well do you hear the people you came with? Instead of asking people to speak up, many people will avoid making a fuss altogether, opting instead to nod along like they can hear every word.
However, this has more negative effects than you might think; pretending to listen to the conversation because you can’t hear it can lead to impacts on your memory as well as your social skills. If you didn’t hear it, then your brain won’t register it as important information to hold onto, and you’ll forget what the conversation was about entirely.
Feeling left out of conversation that you can’t hear will make you feel less eager to go to those busy environments at all – instead of feeling like the odd one out at the dinner table in a loud restaurant, why not stay home and eat alone in peace and quiet?
This 2023 study serves as a concerning wake-up call for those of us feeling lonely or dealing with social isolation. For those struggling to hear in social situations, it’s also a prompt reminder to get your hearing tested, as with professional hearing care, you can rejoin those conversations you’re missing out on.
If you or a loved one feels like you’re losing confidence in social situations or you’re feeling a little left out of conversations with your friends and family, we encourage you to get your hearing tested and see if hearing loss could be contributing to your feelings of loneliness.
Please feel free to request a callback to find out more about hearing care or to chat with a member of our team about your unique circumstances.
Don’t want to wait? Find your closest clinic and call us in:
Truro: 1-888-897-1147
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