It’s no secret that hearing aids improve our quality of life exponentially. After all, they help us reconnect with the sounds of the world around us and the voices of the people we love. In fact, one could say that by treating hearing loss, hearing aids are life-changing. But this just new, a recent study published by the Lancet Healthy Longevity suggests that hearing aids may also be life-extending.1 While the study certainly hooked us with “live longer”, we wanted to know more. So let’s discuss.

About the Study Associating Hearing Aid Use and Adult Mortality

The goal of the study was to examine the relationship between hearing loss, hearing aid use, and mortality in the USA. Led by Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor) Dr. Janet Choi of the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, the study wanted to see whether consistent hearing aid use could affect mortality rates in US adults with hearing loss.

The research team examined hearing evaluations from over 10,000 adults aged 20 and older and identified nearly 1,900 who were living with hearing loss. Of this group, some participants wore hearing aids regularly, some had them but did not wear them consistently, and some did not even own hearing aids.

As for the results? According to Janet Choi, MD, MPH, herself: “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. These results are exciting because they suggest that hearing aids may play a protective role in people’s health and prevent early death.”2

How Hearing Aids Benefit Over Health

This encouraging discovery about hearing aids’ positive effect on lifespan is the latest of many demonstrating that treating hearing loss is beneficial to our overall health. To name a few:

  • Hearing aids benefit brain health: Research has proven that hearing aids can reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Moreover, the Lancet Commission on Dementia, Prevention, Intervention and Care named hearing loss the number one modifiable risk factor found to prevent dementia.3
  • Hearing aids benefit mental health: Wearing hearing aids has also been associated with a reduced risk of depression.4 These findings come as no surprise, given how hearing aid use is key to combatting loneliness and social isolation. 
  • Hearing aids benefit physical health: And when it comes to overall safety, hearing aids help reduce the risk of falls.5 Plus, they reduce the number of ER and hospital visits for people who wear the devices regularly.6

And of course, the list goes on.

You Deserve ALL the Health Benefits of Better Hearing

Thinking about getting your hearing tested? Or considering an appointment for your untreated hearing loss? Now you have one more great reason to do so: consistent hearing aid use helps adults with hearing loss live better and longer. And the process couldn’t be easier:

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And here’s to giving ourselves the power to hear better and live better (and potentially longer) simply by treating our hearing loss. Find out what you may be missing today!

Ready to take your hearing health seriously? Schedule an appointment today. 

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Not sure whether you have hearing loss? We have a test for that! Try our FREE online hearing test.

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References:

  1. Choi, Janet S et al.Association Between Hearing Aid Use and Mortality in Adults With Hearing Loss in the USA: a Mortality Follow-up Study of a Cross-sectional Cohort. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, Volume 5, Issue 1, e66 – e75. Found on the internet at https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/article/PIIS2666-7568(23)00232-5/fulltext
  2. Smith, Cynthia. Wearing Hearing Aids May Reduce Mortality Risk. Neuroscience News. January 4, 2024. Found on the internet at https://neurosciencenews.com/longevity-hearing-aid-25419/
  3. Lin, Frank R et al. Hearing Intervention Versus Health Education Control to Reduce Cognitive Decline in Older Adults With Hearing Loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): a Multicentre, Randomised Controlled Trial. The Lancet, Volume 402, Issue 10404, 786 – 797. Found on the internet at https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)01406-X/abstract
  4. Tsimpida, Dialechti et al. The Dynamic Relationship Between Hearing Loss, Quality of Life, Socioeconomic Position and Depression and the Impact of Hearing Aids: Answers From the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2022; 57(2): 353–362. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8784360/
  5. Mahmoudi, Elham PhD et al. Can Hearing Aids Delay Time to Diagnosis of Dementia, Depression, or Falls in Older Adults? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Found on the internet at https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.16109
  6. Hearing Aids Linked to Fewer Hospital and ER Visits by Older Adults. Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation. Found on the internet at https://ihpi.umich.edu/news/hearing-aids-linked-fewer-hospital-er-visits-older-adults