Hearing aids reduce the risk of death by almost 25%. This was shown by a study by scientists from the University of Southern California published in the journal. Lancet Healthy Longevity.
For the analysis, scientists used data collected between 1999 and 2012. 1,863 adults were diagnosed with hearing loss. Of these, 237 used hearing aids regularly (at least once a week, five hours a week, or half the time), while 1,483 did not use them at all.
Researchers found that the risk of death was 25% lower in regular hearing aid users. Severity of hearing loss, age, medical conditions, ethnicity, income, education, and other factors did not influence this effect. However, using a hearing aid once a month or less was not associated with a change in the risk of death.
Previous research has shown that untreated hearing loss can lead to reduced life expectancy, social isolation, depression and dementia. The authors of the new paper suggest that improvements in mental health and brain function that accompany hearing loss treatment may promote physical health and longer life.
Previous scientists I learnedIt found that an annual visit to the ophthalmologist could reduce the risk of fractures in old age by 31%.