Mental health problems and psychological support for people with hearing loss

Hearing loss and mental health issues are very closely correlated. Hearing loss has a significant impact on daily communication and makes smooth communication difficult. For example, people with hearing loss have difficulty disclosing that they have a hearing loss and avoid communication. Because of these problems, people with hearing loss are also likely to experience difficulties in establishing and maintaining close interpersonal relationships. The difficulties in coping with interpersonal stress due to hearing loss, prejudice, and stigma against people with hearing loss may also have a significant impact on the occurrence of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Therefore, psychological support is a very necessary part of the mental health of people with hearing loss. This chapter discusses the relationship between hearing loss and mental health, practices and empirical studies of psychological support for people with hearing loss in Japan and future issues necessary to provide psychological support for people with hearing loss.