Relação entre perda auditiva e sintomas depressivos em pessoas idosas

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing loss is quite prevalent among the elderly and can negatively impact quality of life. The association between hearing loss and depression highlights the importance of interventions that promote auditory health and mental well-being in this population. Aim: To investigate the relationship between hearing loss and depressive symptoms in elderly. Method: Observational, cross-sectional, and quantitative study involving 49 elderly assisted by a hearing health service in Paraíba and at the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology School Clinic of a public university in state of Paraíba, between November 2024 and March 2025. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) were applied. All participants presented hearing loss diagnosed through audiometry. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Student’s t-test, chi-square test, and Pearson correlation (p ≤ 0.05). Results: A moderate and positive correlation was found between HHIE and GDS scores (r = 0.533; p < 0.01), suggesting that a greater psychosocial impact of hearing loss is related to more depressive symptoms. Elderly individuals with depressive symptoms had higher HHIE scores (p = 0.000). There was no significant association between depressive symptoms and objective audiological aspects. Conclusion: The results reinforce the importance of the subjective perception of hearing in mental health and highlight the need for integrated clinical approaches. It is recommended that future studies consider socioeconomic and environmental factors and the use of hearing aids (HA), as well as the possibility of comparison with a group of elderly individuals without hearing loss.