Scientific Study: Hearing Aids Contribute to Reducing Feelings of Loneliness

SadaNews - Some individuals with hearing impairment prefer not to use hearing aids, believing that they make them appear older or negatively impact their social lives.

However, a recent study published in the scientific journal JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, which specializes in surgeries related to the ear, nose, throat, and neck, proved that hearing aids help improve social engagement and reduce feelings of isolation or loneliness.

The study, conducted by a research team from the University of Southern California, was based on the findings of 65 research papers that included nearly 6,000 individuals, according to the German News Agency.

"Making the brain more active in communication"

In this context, Janet Choi, an otolaryngologist at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, stated: "We found that adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids are more involved in the community, and their feelings of isolation decline compared to those who do not use these devices."

Choi also added in statements to the medical research website "Health Day" that "these results indicate that hearing aids reduce social isolation and the health effects that may result from untreated hearing loss and deafness."

She further noted that "although this study did not examine the cognitive outcomes of using hearing aids, the improvement we observed in communication and social engagement suggests that by restoring the ability to communicate better, hearing aids may help maintain cognitive health by making the brain more active in communicating with others."

According to the National Institute on Aging in the United States, nearly 30 million people in America need to use hearing aids, while the proportion of those who actually use these devices is just 16%.