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Scientific Oral Presentations

Otology/Neurotology

Session: Scientific Oral Presentation 8 - Otology/Neurotology

Hearing Impairment and Depression: A Longitudinal TriNetX Analysis

Tuesday, October 14, 2025
11:18 AM - 11:24 AM EDT
Location: 239
Disclosure(s):
Brian P. Quinlan, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Delaney E.S Clark, BS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Brian J. McKinnon, MD, MBA, MPH, FACS:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Hearing impairments impact not only communication abilities but also have profound effects on mental health. Our aim is to explore the statistical relationship between hearing impairments and the onset of depression and determine if any hearing interventions effectively mitigate depressive symptoms.

Methods: Using the TriNetX database, a retrospective cohort study was designed to investigate the onset of depression following the diagnosis of a hearing impairment or cochlear implantation. Data was collected in January 2025, with cohorts comprising patients attending general health visits (ICD Code Z00.00), those with hearing loss (H90, H91), and individuals who underwent cochlear implant procedures (CPT 69930). Data was balanced using native propensity score matching and preliminary analysis was completed utilizing embedded statistical methods. Data was grouped to demonstrate the onset of depression in each of the following time frames: 1-30 days, 31-180 days, and 181-365 days. Preliminary analysis revealed hearing loss is a statistically significant risk factor for depression.

Results: Patients with hearing loss were more likely to experience depression than their peers with the onset most prominent in the 1-30 day period following diagnosis of hearing loss (p < 0.0001, RR 1.352, CI 1.338, 1.367), followed by the 31-180 day period (p < 0.0001, RR 1.203, CI 1.195, 1.211), and ultimately the 181-365 day period (p < 0.0001, RR 1.109, CI 1.11, 1.116). Onset of depression in patients with cochlear implants (CI) was greatest in the 1–30-day period (p < 0.0001, RR 1.387, CI 1.193,1.612). Yet CI recipients experienced less onset of depression than their peers in the 31–180-day period (p < 0.0001, RR 0.748, CI 0.671, 0.834) and in the 181–365-day period (p < 0.0001, RR 0.677, CI 0.609, 0.753).

Conclusions: This study demonstrates a relationship between hearing impairments and depression. These findings indicate the importance of recognizing the complex relationship between hearing health and mental health. It also demonstrates the protective features of hearing interventions against depression within this community.

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Brian P. Quinlan, MD

    PGY-1
    LSU Health Shreveport Dept of Otolaryngology
    Shreveport, LA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Brian P. Quinlan, MD

    PGY-1
    LSU Health Shreveport Dept of Otolaryngology
    Shreveport, LA, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Sofia Piperno, BS

    Medical Student
    The University of Texas Medical Branch
    Spring, TX, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • Delaney Shiu Clark, BS

    Medical Student
    University of Texas Medical Branch At Galveston
    Galveston, TX, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • BM

    Brian J. McKinnon, MD, MBA, MPH, FACS

    Professor, Neurotology
    University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
    Galveston, TX, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.