Importance of Audiologist Screening for Suicidal Ideation in Individuals With Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is increasingly recognized as a chronic health condition with psychosocial consequences that extend beyond impaired auditory function, including social isolation, loneliness, reduced quality of life, and depression. Emerging epidemiological evidence suggests that individuals with hearing loss may also be at an increased risk of suicidal ideation, particularly when communication difficulties coexist with depression and social withdrawal. Despite these findings, the role of audiologists in identifying individuals at risk has received limited attention. This viewpoint aims to present an evidence-based rationale for the role of audiologists in the early identification of suicidal ideation among individuals with hearing loss and to propose a practical framework for targeted suicide risk screening within audiology practice.

Audiologists, through their ongoing involvement in hearing assessment, rehabilitation, tinnitus management, and long-term follow-up, are well positioned to recognize psychological distress and facilitate timely referral for comprehensive mental health evaluation. We advocate for a targeted, rather than universal, suicide risk screening approach using brief validated instruments among individuals presenting with established psychosocial or clinical risk factors. Importantly, screening is proposed as a means of identifying patients who require referral and should not be interpreted as replacing comprehensive mental health assessment or expanding the audiologist's scope into psychiatric diagnosis or treatment. Integrating such approaches into audiology services may meaningfully contribute to broader suicide prevention efforts.