Depression and Individuals with Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing loss is a silent disability that reduces the hearing acuity of an individual and makes it difficult to perceive or interpret auditory signals. Persons with hearing loss are a heterogeneous group comprising of diverse and complex psychosocial characteristics of individuals who does not readily enjoy the empathy/sympathy received by other forms of disabilities that is readily visible. Hearing loss usually predisposes sufferers to resentment, hostility, rejection and subtle denial resulting to a cascading effect on socio-emotional development and could ultimately lead to depression.