Research shows that there is a link between the use of hearing aids and reduced mortality

Hearing aid photo by Mark Paton on unsplash.com

With the pandemic largely in the rearview mirror, quality of life has improved. The sights, smells and sounds of a busy world are once again part of everyday life.

But for a large group, the impairment of any of those senses continues to negatively impact quality of life – and even increase mortality rates.

Hearing loss affects almost 20% of the world’s population – more than 1.5 billion people – and the World Health Organization estimates that more than 700 million people will suffer from disabling hearing loss.

Historically, hearing loss has been linked to various physical and social problems, ranging from depression to an increased risk of diabetes, dementia and other diseases.

Dennis Thomas, president of Beltone Central California, has worked in audiology since 1985, prescribing and servicing hearing aids and educating patients and their families about the causes, treatments and side effects of hearing loss.

“It’s all about a better quality of life with friends and loved ones, business relationships, whatever they may be,” Thomas said. “It is very clear when the hearing aid needs to be repaired and they have to go without it for a few days.”

A recent study from Keck Medicine of USC supports these claims, finding that adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids see a 24% lower risk of death compared to those who never used them.

“These results are exciting because they suggest that hearing aids may play a protective role in people’s health and prevent premature death,” said Janet Choi, MD, MPH, of Keck Medicine in an article published by the private research university.

The study adds that while previous research suggested hearing loss could lead to a shorter life expectancy, new research directly examined whether hearing aid use resulted in a lower mortality rate.

The findings included a nearly 25% difference in mortality rates between hearing aid users and non-hearing aid users from different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities and economic backgrounds.

Choi said that although the study does not explore why hearing aids directly help people live longer lives, there is a clear correlation, speculating that “The improvements in mental health and cognition that come with better hearing can promote better overall health, which can extend lifespan.”

Thomas largely agrees with the sentiment, offering first-hand experience of his own patients’ hearing loss journey.

Thomas said that some of the long-term effects of hearing loss are not only related to hearing, but can also affect quality of life, adding that after long-term hearing loss, the brain can even atrophy in language recognition.

“I’ve had people deny it – couples have come – and I’ve heard the man say, ‘Either I get a divorce or I get hearing aids,’” Thomas said. “When it gets to that point, that frustration and that kind of impact in your life is quite stressful.”

Thomas said the stresses associated with patients’ personal lives range from relationship to family issues and even work-related issues.

The immediate danger is obvious – not being able to hear warning sirens, approaching hazards such as vehicles or heavy machinery – but the invisible signals carry just as much weight, just in a different way.

Thomas said that for many patients the “aha!” The time comes when patients experience daily activities such as watching television. Many people who experience hearing loss will create their own storylines, not only in entertainment, but also in everyday life.

This can pose a serious problem with work-related and relationship-related problems.

Recognizing hearing loss is the key to getting help early, according to Thomas.

“That has a direct impact on how high of a quality of life we ​​can (have),” Thomas said. “How much stress can we relieve if we have a healthier ear to work with if we get the hearing loss treated early.”

Choi, who was born with hearing loss in her left ear, said finding the right solution is essential to improving quality of life despite several barriers to hearing aids, including cost, stigma and difficulty in finding suitable devices.

It took Choi until her 30s to start wearing a hearing aid, and even then it took several years before she found one that fit properly.

Choi hopes that larger studies will increase understanding of the link between lower mortality rates and hearing aid use.