The "Hearing Bone's" Connected to the...What?
by Lindsay B. Robinson, HIA Program Manager
September 25, 2024
Hearing loss – is it just a normal irritation for older adults and those who wish to communicate with them, or should it be taken more seriously and acted upon quickly? What does science say about the importance of hearing health and its impact on mental and physical well-being? Let’s look at highlights from recent studies to learn more about hearing health and how it can influence quality of life at all ages:
- Mental Health – In a large national study on US adults and mental health, it was found that increased levels of hearing loss suggested increased occurrence of psychological distress and uptake of mental health medications. Individuals who chose to treat their hearing loss with hearing aids had less risk of depression and were less likely to utilize mental health services.1
Balance and Safety – Among participants with hearing loss, there was a significant difference in fall risk between those who chose to treat hearing loss and those who did not. Treating hearing loss with hearing aids reduced the risk of accidental injury and falls.2
- Staying Sharp – Treating hearing loss with hearing aids may help slow the development of cognitive decline. Although the association between the two isn’t fully understood, it has been suggested that hearing health increases brain functioning and feelings of social inclusion.3
- Heart Health - The ear can be a window to the heart. Blood flow is essential for good hearing, and if there are any issues with circulation, difficulty hearing could be the first indication. Improvement of glucose control and blood pressure in study participants had positive effects on hearing abilities.4
- Health Care Costs – Due to the connection between hearing health and risks of falls and other comorbidities, individuals with healthy hearing saved 26% in health care costs over two years compared to the group who lived with untreated hearing loss.5
- Diabetes - People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop hearing loss due to long-term high or low blood sugar damaging nerves in the inner ear. It is recommended to have your hearing tested annually if you have diabetes.6
- Longevity – Potentially due to mitigating the above risk factors, people who report regular use of hearing aids were found to have a lower risk of mortality compared to those living with untreated hearing loss.7
Treating hearing loss can improve communication skills, decrease social isolation and loneliness, strengthen interpersonal relationships, enhance cognitive functioning, and lead to a longer, healthier life. If you are experiencing hearing difficulties or it’s been a while since your last hearing test, reach out to a licensed hearing professional for a quick and easy hearing test.
1 Bigelow RT, Reed NS, Brewster KK, Huang A, Rebok G, Rutherford BR, Lin FR. Association of Hearing Loss with Psychological Distress and Utilization of Mental Health Services Among Adults in the United States. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Jul 1;3(7):e2010986. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.10986. PMID: 32687587; PMCID: PMC7372323.
2 Tiase VL, Tang K, Vawdrey DK, Raso R, Adelman JS, Yu SP, Applebaum JR, Lalwani AK. Impact of Hearing Loss on Patient Falls in the Inpatient Setting. Am J Prev Med. 2020 Jun;58(6):839-844. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.01.019. PMID: 32444002.
3 Hearing loss and the Dementia Connection. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2021, November 12). https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/hearing-loss-and-the-dementia-connection#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20hearing%20loss,is%20less%20engaged%20and%20active.
4 Baiduc, R.R., Sun, J.W., Berry, C.M. et al. Relationship of cardiovascular disease risk and hearing loss in a clinical population. Sci Rep 13, 1642 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28599-9
5 Patients with Untreated Hearing Loss Incur Higher Health Care Costs Over Time | Johns Hopkins. (2018). Retrieved 20 May 2022, from https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2018/patients-with-untreated-hearing-loss-incur-higher-health-care-costs-over-time#:~:text=Older%20adults%20with%20untreated%20hearing%20loss%20incur%20substantially%20higher%20total,Bloomberg%20School%20of%20Public%20Health
6 National Council on Aging (2023). Hearing Loss and Diabetes: What You Need to Know. https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/diabetes-and-hearing-loss/
7 Choi JS, Adams ME, Crimmins EM, Lin FR, Ailshire JA. Association between hearing aid use and mortality in adults with hearing loss in the USA: a mortality follow-up study of a cross-sectional cohort. The Lancet healthy-longevity. Vol 5 January 2024. https://soundcheckmap.org/map
