LOS ANGELES — Hearing aids may help those wearing them live a longer life, new research explains. Researchers from the University of Southern California found a nearly 25-percent reduction in the risk of premature death among hearing aid users.
Globally, hearing loss impacts tens of millions of people, yet only a tenth of those in need utilize hearing aids. This latest study highlights the potential health benefits of hearing aid use.
“We found that adults with hearing loss who regularly used hearing aids had a 24% lower risk of mortality than those who never wore them,” says Janet Choi, MD, MPH, an otolaryngologist with Keck Medicine of USC and lead researcher of the study, in a media release. “These results are exciting because they suggest that hearing aids may play a protective role in people’s health and prevent early death.”
Previous studies have linked untreated cases of hearing loss to a shorter lifespan, social isolation, depression, and dementia. However, research examining the impact of hearing aid use on mortality risk has been limited. Dr. Choi asserts that this study is the most comprehensive analysis to date on this relationship.
The study involved nearly 10,000 adults 20 and older who underwent hearing tests and completed questionnaires about their hearing aid usage. Over a follow-up period of 10 years, the research team monitored their mortality status.
Among the 1,863 adults identified with hearing loss, 237 were regular users of hearing aids, while 1,483 never used the devices. The study revealed that the mortality risk reduction among regular users was consistent, irrespective of factors like the extent of hearing loss, age, ethnicity, income, education, and medical history.
Interestingly, the study found no change in mortality risk between occasional and non-users of hearing aids, suggesting that infrequent use may not improve a person’s longevity. Dr. Choi speculates that hearing aids may enhance longevity by reducing the risk of depression and dementia, as better hearing can improve mental health and cognition.
Dr. Choi, who began using a hearing aid in her 30s despite being born with hearing loss, is hopeful that this study will motivate more people to wear hearing aids. She acknowledges challenges like cost, stigma, and difficulty in finding suitable devices but is working on an AI-driven database to help customize hearing aid choices for individual needs.
The findings are published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity.
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South West News Service writer Stephen Beech contributed to this report.
