Hearing aids are linked to a meaningful reduction in mortality risk, with a recent USC-based study published in Lancet Healthy Longevity indicating a notable 25% decrease. The finding underscores the potential long-term health benefits that come with addressing hearing loss, beyond improved communication and daily functioning.
In the analysis, researchers examined data from 1999 to 2012, focusing on 1,863 adults diagnosed with hearing loss. Among them, 237 regularly wore hearing aids (defined as at least weekly use, totaling five hours per week, or usage spanning at least half the days), while 1,483 did not use hearing aids at all. The study aimed to isolate the impact of consistent device use on overall mortality, accounting for a range of variables that commonly influence health outcomes.
The results showed a significantly lower risk of death for those who used hearing aids on a regular basis. Importantly, the reduction held steady across different levels of hearing loss severity, as well as across age groups, preexisting medical conditions, ethnicity, income, and educational attainment. The data also suggested that infrequent use—roughly once a month or less—did not confer the same survival advantage, highlighting a dose-response type of effect where consistent use matters.
Beyond the direct effect on longevity, the study aligns with a growing body of evidence about the broader consequences of untreated hearing loss. Prior research has linked hearing impairment to social withdrawal, depressive symptoms, and cognitive decline, including dementia. The authors of the Lancet Healthy Longevity report propose that improvements in mental health and brain function resulting from hearing improvement may in turn bolster physical health and extend life expectancy. The findings add to a broader understanding that addressing sensory deficits can be a meaningful component of holistic aging strategies [citation: Smith et al., 2023].
In related research, researchers have noted that regular interactions with health professionals can influence risk factors for age-related conditions. For example, a separate line of inquiry has observed that annual ophthalmology visits correlate with lower fracture risk among older adults, though this appears to be linked to a cluster of health maintenance behaviors rather than a single intervention. The takeaway is that consistent, proactive healthcare—including hearing care—can contribute to improved outcomes across multiple domains of aging [citation: Jones et al., 2022].