A new study has found that regular hearing aid use can reduce the risk of early death by as much as 24%. The USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology compared the life expectancy of people who regularly wear hearing aids to those with untreated hearing loss who never wear hearing aids. Anne Arundel County residents may wonder how this is possible, since hearing aids are not a magic pill, after all. But patients at Anne Arundel Audiology clearly benefit from using hearing aids, saying they feel more confident and stable when wearing their devices.
To understand why hearing aids increase life expectancy, it is important to explain how untreated hearing loss is linked to other health problems. For example, withdrawing from social activities due to hearing problems leads to self-isolation, which can eventually lead to anxiety and depression. The same scenario applies to cognitive decline; when people withdraw from conversations, they do not stimulate the brain and it can atrophy faster, leading to a faster onset or progression of dementia. People with depression or dementia are known to have a shorter life expectancy than average. Wearing hearing aids reduces the risk of these conditions and therefore reduces the associated mortality. To fully benefit mentally, emotionally and physically from the use of hearing aids, it is important to wear them regularly during all waking hours.
Another example is the link between hearing loss and falls. People with untreated hearing loss lose their spatial awareness when they can no longer hear their surroundings, and they use more of their cognitive resources to detect ambient sounds. This means the brain has less energy to focus on things like posture that would prevent falls. By restoring the ability to hear ambient sounds through consistent use of hearing aids, the wearer can use more of their brain resources to maintain balance. Since falls are the leading cause of death from injury in people over 65, it is crucial to explore all possible options for prevention, including hearing aids.
Doctors at Anne Arundel Audiology have seen first-hand how quickly a new patient adapts to a hearing aid when they first put it on. The patient’s face lights up when they realize they can follow every word, and it is truly satisfying to know that they can now participate more comfortably in conversations with friends, family, and their doctors. Our patients at Anne Arundel Audiology regularly tell of things they didn’t notice, such as the sound of the rain falling, the gentle voices of their little grandchildren, or the meowing of their cat. Hearing aids not only provide patients with greater security, but also bring back the small joys of sound that life has to offer.
Dr. Britney Ometz is the owner of Anne Arundel Audiology in Glen Burnie, MD. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Towson University and her master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She spent her final year as an intern at the Washington DC VA Medical Center, then worked in private practice and ENT facilities early in her career. She started her own clinic because she wanted to create a system of thorough, patient-centered care so she could advise patients on the best decisions regarding their hearing health.
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