- Researchers are reporting that hearing aids can help lower the risk of early mortality.
- They say that one reason is that hearing aids can help to prevent or slow the progression of dementia.
- The stigma attached to hearing aids and the fear of losing them are some of the reasons people say they are reluctant to use the devices.
Hearing aids can help reduce mortality risk, according to a
Researchers used data from the
The scientists followed 1,863 participants for 10 years to determine their mortality status.
The researchers noted that:
- 237 study participants were regular hearing aid users. Regular use was wearing their hearing aid at least once a week, five hours a week, or half the time.
- 1,483 were classified as never-users. This group included those who reported wearing their hearing aids less than once a month.
The researchers said there was nearly a 25% difference in mortality risk between regular hearing aid users and never-users.
This result remained true regardless of the degree of hearing loss, age, ethnicity, income, education, and other demographic factors.
The researchers said there was no difference between those who occasionally used their hearing aid and those who reported never using it, indicating the occasional use does not provide life-extending benefits.
The scientists did not examine why there was a difference in mortality risk, but Dr. Janet Choi, the lead study author and a specialist in neurotology and otolaryngology at the Caruso Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Southern California, speculated that causes of hearing loss, such…
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