09/24/2025
Dr. Artsma broke down the correlation between hearing loss and social isolation in this article.
“When someone begins to lose their hearing, the quality of sound signals sent to the brain diminishes,” she said. “This forces the brain to work harder to fill in the missing information, a process known as reconstruction and compensation.
“This increased cognitive load can cause mental fatigue, making even simple conversations exhausting. To cope, many individuals with hearing loss begin to avoid social situations, as it's often easier than constantly struggling to understand what's being said. This withdrawal can lead to feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.”
Dr. Artsma explained that this often creates a cycle: the more someone pulls back from social interaction, the more their mental health and overall quality of life are negatively impacted.
Hearing loss affects more than just your ears — it can lead to isolation, mental fatigue, and even depression. Social withdrawal has real health ri
