According to statistics, nearly 40 million American adults suffer from hearing loss, yet barely one in ten people use hearing aids. But wearing hearing aids is essential according to a new study published today in The Lancet Healthy Longevity by Keck Medicine of USC.
Researchers found an almost 25 per cent difference in mortality risk between regular hearing aid users and never-users inspite of variables such as the degree of hearing loss (from mild to severe), age, ethnicity, income, education and other demographics; and medical history.
Hearing aids – How can they help individuals to live longer?
The mortality risks of people with hearing problems and those with not are almost the same and occasional hearing aid use may not provide any life-extending benefit. According to Janet Choi, MD, MPH, an otolaryngologist with Keck Medicine and lead researcher of the study, “It is found that adults with hearing loss who regularly used hearing aids had a 24 per cent lower risk of mortality than those who never wore them.”
These results are amazing because it was found that hearing aids may play a protective role in people’s health and prevent early death. Previous research has shown that untreated hearing loss can result in a reduced life span (as well as other poor outcomes such as social isolation, depression and dementia).
The recent study represents the most comprehensive analysis of the relationship between hearing loss, hearing aid use and mortality in the United States, according to Choi. Choi and his team used data compiled by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999-2012 to identify almost 10,000 adults above 20 years and older who had completed audiometry evaluations. After the evaluation, it can be seen that a total of 1,863 adults suffer from hearing loss. Of these, 237 were regular hearing aid users, and 1,483 were identified as never-users of the devices. Subjects who reported wearing the devices less than once a month or less frequently were categorised as non-regular users.
Study encourages people to use hearing aids
Based on the evaluation, Choi researched that those who use hearing aids have lowered levels of depression and dementia. Choi hopes this study will encourage more people to wear hearing aids, even though she acknowledges that factors including cost, stigma and difficulty finding devices that fit and function well are barriers to use.
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