Hearing Aid Usage Linked to Lower Mortality and Dementia Risks: Studies

There was 24 percent lower risk of mortality among individuals who used hearing aids regularly compared to those who never used them.

A general view of new hearing aids at the Starkey Hearing Foundation Mission during GRAMMY Camp at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 22, 2014. Rachel Murray/Getty Images

People who suffer from hearing loss and use aids have a lower risk of mortality and dementia compared to those who never use the devices, according to two new studies.

One study, published in The Lancet on Jan. 3, examined the association between hearing loss, use of hearing aids, and mortality among Americans. Researchers looked at data from 9,985 adults, out of which 1,863 suffered from hearing loss. “We found that adults with hearing loss who regularly used hearing aids had a 24 percent lower risk of mortality than those who never wore them,” said Janet Choi, lead researcher of the study.