Many people suffering from hearing loss refuse to get hearing aids because of embarrassment or their refusal to accept the fact that have a disability. About one in 10 people who need such a device actually use them.
New study disproves previous research
Previous research has shown that untreated hearing loss can result in a reduced life span, along with other poor outcomes such as social isolation, depression, and dementia, but until now, there has been very little research examining whether the use of hearing aids can reduce the risk of death.
She and her team used the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2012 to identify almost 10,000 adults 20 years and older who had completed audiometry evaluations, a test used to measure hearing ability, and who filled out questionnaires about their hearing aid use. Researchers followed their mortality status over an average follow-up period of 10 years after their evaluations.
She is currently working on an artificial intelligence-driven database that categorizes hearing aid choices and tailors them to individual patient needs. She also suggests that larger studies be carried out to further understand the link between regular hearing aid use and a lower mortality risk and to promote hearing care.
