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The benefits of regular hearing aid use
A new study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity by Keck Medicine of USC has found that adults with hearing loss who regularly use hearing aids have a The study is the most thorough examination so far of how hearing loss, hearing aid use and mortality are linked in the U.S. It found that people who use hearing aids have a 24% lower chance of dying than those who do not use them.
The researchers analysed data from almost 10,000 adults 20 years and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999-2012. They identified 1,863 adults who had hearing loss, of which 237 were regular hearing aid users and 1,483 were never-users. Regular hearing aid users were defined as those who wore the devices at least once a week, five hours a week or half the time.
The researchers found that the difference in mortality risk between regular hearing aid users and never-users was consistent, regardless of factors such as the degree of hearing loss, age, ethnicity, income, education, medical history and other demographics. They also found that non-regular hearing aid users, who wore the devices less than once a month or less frequently, had no difference in mortality risk compared to never-users, suggesting that occasional hearing aid use may not offer any life-extending benefit.
The lead researcher of the study, Janet Choi, MD, MPH, an otolaryngologist with Keck Medicine, said that the study showed that people with hearing loss who used hearing aids regularly had a lower chance of dying early by 24 per cent than those who did not use them. She said that this was an exciting finding because it indicated that hearing aids could help protect people’s health and extend their lives.
The link between hearing loss and poor health outcomes
Previous research has shown that untreated hearing loss can result in a reduced life span, as well as other negative consequences such as social isolation, depression and dementia. The link between hearing aid use and mortality has been largely unexplored by previous research. While the study did not investigate the mechanisms behind the association between hearing aid use and mortality, Choi speculates that the improvements in mental health and cognition that come with better health and longer lives may result from enhanced hearing. She also points to recent research that has shown that hearing aid use can lower the levels of depression and dementia in people with hearing loss.
The challenges and opportunities of using hearing aids
Hearing loss affects almost 40 million adults in the U.S., but only about 10% of those who need hearing aids actually wear them. Choi hopes that this study will encourage more people to wear hearing aids, especially as a New Year’s resolution.
However, she also acknowledges that there are barriers to hearing aid use, such as cost, stigma and difficulty finding devices that fit and function well. She understands these difficulties from her own experience, since she had hearing loss in her left ear from birth but did not use a hearing device until she was in her 30s. After that, she spent several years looking for ones that suited her needs.
Choi advises people with hearing loss to consult with their doctors and audiologists to find the best hearing aids for their needs and to use them regularly. She also urges more research and innovation to make hearing aids more accessible, affordable and user-friendly.
She said that people with hearing loss could enhance their health and well-being by using hearing aids. She also said that this could increase their life span.
