Deafness makes you depressed

[A]nd in the next year [1690] he [Anthony a Wood] found a deafness, first in his right, and afterwards in his left, eare, which continued more or less till death. This disaster he look'd upon as the first and greatest misery of his life. It made him exceeding melancholy and more retir'd; was also at great charg in taking physick and slops, to drive the noises out of hie ears, and Dr John Lamphire took a great deal of paines about them, but in vaine.

The life and times of Anthony A Wood. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1961:181