Age-related hearing loss is common in Charleston and throughout the Carolinas, negatively affecting many aspects of daily life. People are unable to follow conversations effectively and have difficulty filtering out background noise. Left untreated, many seniors experience social isolation and declines in mental and physical health. But hearing aids can help reverse those risks and provide a better quality of life.
Hearing Aids Make a Dramatic Difference
A new study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, published September 4, shows that people aged 66 and over who are prescribed hearing aids when diagnosed with hearing loss have a lower risk of dementia, depression, anxiety and injuries related to falls over the next three years, compared to patients who did not begin wearing hearing aids right away. The differences were striking:
- The risk of being diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s was 18 percent lower
- The risk of a depression or anxiety diagnosis was 11 percent lower
- The risk of receiving treatment for a fall-related injury was 13 percent lower
As a result, many seniors who wear hearing aids enjoy a better quality of life and have lower healthcare costs to contend with, as they don’t have chronic conditions or falls to deal with. Elham Mahmoudi, a University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine health economist who led the study, explained, “Hearing loss is a potentially modifiable risk factor. A simpler system of hearing care, insurance coverage and more educational outreach on potential benefits of using hearing aids is needed.”
Unfortunately, only 12 percent of older individuals who are diagnosed with hearing loss choose to wear hearing aids, even when their medical insurance helps offset the costs.
Age-Related Hearing Loss is Widespread
Age-related hearing loss, known medically as presbycusis, is common. It is the result of a number of factors including the cumulative effects of noise exposure, genetics, medications, trauma and disease. One-third of people over the age of 65 develop hearing loss; by age 75, that number is closer to half.
Because hearing loss typically develops gradually, it takes about seven years on average before a person will seek medical treatment. Yes, hearing aids can be costly, but other factors that end up as barriers to care include a stigma associated with wearing hearing aids, uncomfortable fit and inconvenience. More men than women chose to wear hearing aids during the study (13.3 percent of males vs. 11.3 percent of females) and there were differences based on racial/ethnic makeup and geography. For instance, Latinos have the lowest rates of hearing aid use, while people in the North Central U.S. were most likely to use them.
The study’s large sample size and extended follow-up period give it heft, but there are still unanswered questions. There is no way to determine the severity of the patients’ hearing loss or how often they actually wore their hearing aids. In addition, it’s unclear whether hearing aids were responsible for a delay in the health effects or were simply associated with them. A new multi-year randomized trial is being funded by the National Institute on Aging to help study these questions.
One thing is clear: hearing aids can help improve your quality of life. Costs are falling and new technology is improving their quality and convenience. If you are experiencing signs of hearing loss, schedule an appointment with an audiologist in Charleston to learn more about how hearing aids can help.