Hearing aids reduce the risk of premature death by almost 25%.
- In the work, among the 1,863 adults experiencing hearing loss, 237 used a hearing aid at least once a week, five hours a week or half the time.
- Among people with hearing loss, regular use of aids is associated with a 24% lower risk of death.
- According to Janet Choi, lead author of the study, wearing hearing aids reduces the risk of depression and dementia, which improves overall health and lifespan.
In France, more than 10% of the population is faced with hearing loss or hearing loss. However, only 17% of those affected have a hearing aid. However, in the event of a hearing loss, wearing a prosthesis can have health benefits. This was recently revealed by researchers at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. In order to reach this conclusion, they carried out a study published in the journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity.
Hearing loss: 237 patients regularly used a device
As part of their work, the scientists examined the links between hearing loss, hearing aid use and mortality in the United States. To do this, the team used data from a national survey conducted between 1999 and 2012 to identify 9,885 adults aged 20 and over. Participants had audiometric assessments, a test to measure hearing ability, and completed questionnaires about hearing aid use. The authors followed the evolution of their mortality over an average period of 10 years after the evaluations.
According to the data, 1,863 people were identified as suffering from hearing loss. Among them, 237 wore a hearing aid at least once a week, five hours a week or half the time. 1,483 volunteers said they had never used these aids.
24% lower risk of dying among regular hearing aid users
“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.”said Janet Choi, an otolaryngologist and lead author of the study, in a statement. Another observation: there was no difference in risk of death between non-regular users and people who had never used hearing aids. This indicates that occasional wearing of hearing aids may not prolong lifespan.
Although research has not analyzed why hearing aids may help people who need them live longer, recent cohorts have linked hearing aid use to decreased levels of hearing aids. depression and dementia, according to Janet Choi. It thus posits that improvements in mental health and cognition that result from better hearing can promote better overall health, which can improve lifespan.
