Hearing aids and cochlear implants improve the social life of adults with hearing loss

Hearing loss does not only affect the way people hear the world – it can also change the way they are associated with it.

A new study by USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck, part of USC’s Keck Medicine, published today in Jama otolaryngology – Head & Neck SurgeryIt is the first to connect hearing aids and cochlear implants, surgically implanted devices that help people with deep hearing loss perceive sound, in improving social life in adults with hearing loss.

We found that adults with hearing loss who used hearing aids or cochlear implants were more socially dedicated and felt less isolated than those who did not use them. This suggests that hearing devices can help prevent social disconnection and broader health effects that can follow hearing loss without treatment. ”

Janet Choi, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist with Keck Medicine and Head of Study Researcher

Hearing loss affects about 40 million American adults, but many have not been cured. When left unattended, hearing loss can make communication difficult, leading people to withdraw from conversations and social activities, according to Choi.

Previous research has shown that over time, social withdrawal can reduce mental stimulation and increase the risk of loneliness, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline and dementia. It has also linked chronic social isolation to biological and neurological changes, including increased brain inflammation and lesions in the structure of the brain.

“Understanding the relationship between hearing loss, the use of the hearing and social isolation is vital,” Choi said. “Until this study, it was not clear if hearing devices could help in reversing isolation.”

Choi and her colleagues conducted a comprehensive, systematic review and meta-analysis of 65 previously published studies, including more than five thousand participants, in the way in which headphones and cochlear implants affect three basic measures: Hearing can create in social situations and share.

Researchers have found that adults who use hearing devices feel more socially connected and less limited to social situations. They are better able to participate in group talks and feel more comfortable in noisy or provocative listening environments. Participants also said that they feel less socially disability than their hearing loss, with less obstacles and frustrations during interactions and an improved ability to remain committed without feeling excluded. This increased confidence can help users more easily connect with family, friends and colleagues, leading to stronger emotions that belong and reduced social stress. The study also suggested that hearing devices can reduce loneliness, although further investigations are needed in this area, according to Choi.

Those with cochlear implants have reported the greatest improvement in their social quality of life. This is likely because cochlear implants offer hearing more hearing rehabilitation than acoustic aids, especially for people with more severe hearing loss. As a result, they may experience more remarkable improvements in social commitment as soon as their hearing is restored.

While being out of the field of study to measure how the best social life is associated with improved cognitive results, Choi believes that there may be a connection, as previous research has found that hearing loss management can be crucial to reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. “While our study did not directly measure the cognitive results, the improvements we have seen in communication and social commitment suggest that by restoring the clearer communication, hearing devices can help maintain cognitive health by keeping the brain more actively involved and people.”

This study is followed by a January 2024 study by Choi showing that adults with hearing loss using hearing aids have almost 25% lower mortality risk, suggesting that hearing loss can improve life and social quality of life.

“These new findings add to a growing body of research that shows that hearing health is deeply linked to general well -being,” Choi said. “We hope that this encourages more people to seek treatment and help clinical doctors start conversations with patients on how hearing devices can improve their quality of life.”