2024-01-07 18:03:00
Study on the relationship between hearing treatment and mortality
Risk of death is lower when wearing hearing aids
Hearing aids, devices that help people with hearing impairments hear better, have been shown to play a role in preventing premature death. A research team led by Janet Choi, a researcher at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, who has hearing loss, published research results in the international academic journal ‘Lancet’ on the 3rd, showing that hearing aids help people live longer.
According to the research team, approximately 40 million American adults are affected by hearing loss, but only 1 in 10 use hearing aids. According to existing research, if hearing loss is not treated, social isolation, depression, dementia, etc. are worsened and it is known to reduce life expectancy. There has been relatively little research confirming whether hearing aid use actually increases lifespan. The research team attempted a comprehensive analysis that looked at the relationship between hearing loss, hearing aid use, and mortality.
The research team collected hearing test results using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2021 and analyzed the contents of questionnaires related to hearing aid use. Mortality rates were also determined following follow-up for an average of 10 years.
In a comparative analysis of 1,863 adults with hearing loss, 237 who wore hearing aids at least once a week and 1,483 who did not wear them at all, the risk of death for hearing aid users was consistently approximately 25% lower than for non-users. There was no relationship with variables such as mild to severe hearing loss, age, ethnicity, income, education level, or medical history.
The research team did not attempt to analyze why hearing aid use helps people live longer. However, given that previous studies have shown that non-use of hearing aids contributes to the worsening of depression and dementia, it is estimated that a lifestyle that improves hearing will have an overall health improvement effect, including improved mental health and cognition.
The research team acknowledged that it is not easy for people with hearing impairment to find hearing aids that fit them well. Researcher Choi, who led this study, was born with hearing loss in his left ear and had the experience of taking several years to find an effective hearing aid on his own. Researcher Choi said, “If you use a hearing aid regularly, the risk of death decreases. Hearing aids not only help hearing by amplifying sound, but also prevent early death, so we recommend that you find and wear a hearing aid that suits you well.” .
Donga Science Reporter Moon Se-young moon09@donga.com
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