Is Your Mood Connected to Hearing Loss

Does hearing a song that makes you think of good times improve your day? Do you feel better when a family member or old friend you haven’t talked to in a while calls you? Does a particular smell or sound take you back to a happy time? Studies have shown that smells and sounds make your brain make chemicals that make you feel better. If you have hearing loss, this is another thing you won’t be able to benefit from with treatment.

Dopamine and how it works

Dopamine is a chemical that is sent between nerve cells in different parts of the brain. It comes from the hypothalamus (a structure deep within your brain) and is used by the body as a hormone. Dopamine is linked to the reward and motivation system in the brain. It helps control mood, sleep, behavior, and the brain’s work. Studies show that it improves the heart, blood flow, and metabolism.

So, what does dopamine have to do with hearing? We “hear” with our ears, but our brains tell us what those sounds mean. The auditory nerve connects the ear cochlea to the brain’s auditory center. You will lose your hearing if any part of this path is broken. French scientists who looked at how dopamine affects the auditory nerve found that it is essential for keeping the neurons in the auditory nerve healthy and for how they respond to sound.

People are social by nature, and communication is how they stay in touch with the world and other people. Hearing makes it easier for people to connect. We talk to our friends and family and listen to music when we want to relax, feel better, or dance. Studies show that music is a great way to change your mood. Researchers at Canada’s McGill University watched “eight 19- to 24-year-olds’ brains as they listened to music they chose.” They found that “dopamine levels went up by 6 to 9 percent.”

Several studies have shown that the amount of dopamine in our bodies increases when we hear sounds we know, like, and associate with good memories. This is in part because of the sounds. The study shows that having low levels of dopamine is linked to being tired, having mood swings, and not being motivated.

What is your mood like when hearing loss is untreated?

Researchers have found that children and adults with untreated hearing loss can experience more anger, low self-confidence, frustration, embarrassment, and depression. As people get older and their hearing worsens, they may feel sad and almost like they are grieving. They won’t put themselves in social situations where they must work hard to hear.

And the mood change that comes with hearing loss doesn’t just affect the person who can’t hear. Someone in a relationship who doesn’t want to stress out their partner will stop going to social events, so they don’t have to put their partner in an uncomfortable situation. This may be done to show support, but it makes the couple feel even more alone.

Hearing loss in one partner will also make it harder for them to talk to each other daily, and the TV volume can even lead to arguments. No matter how helpful, this will lead to frustration and anger in the long run! The couple is getting increasingly cut off from the people who helped them enjoy life.

A recent study from the University of Gothenburg examined how hearing loss can change a person’s personality and mood. Six years were spent watching 400 people between the ages of 80 and 98. They found that most people became less friendly, and their moods worsened.

Time for a hearing test?

There is no better time than now to call us and schedule a free hearing test. And if you need hearing aids, our team can help you find the best pair for your needs. If you can hear better, you might start to feel that dopamine and mood boost!

With new hearing aid technology, you can stream music from your portable music player to your hearing aids without wires. Here’s something that could make you feel dopamine. Hearing well lets you enjoy life to the fullest. Contact us today!