Change in loneliness after intervention with cochlear implants or hearing aids

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Gerontology
• Psychology

Background:

• Hearing loss is prevalent in adults over 50 and can contribute to social isolation and loneliness.
• Hearing aids (HAs) and cochlear implants (CIs) are common interventions for hearing loss, but their impact on psychological well-being, specifically loneliness, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effect of hearing aid (HA) and cochlear implant (CI) use on loneliness in adults aged 50 and older with postlingual hearing loss.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational cohort study involving 113 adults with hearing loss undergoing HA or CI treatment.
• Participants completed the University of California at Los Angeles Loneliness Scale at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months post-intervention.
• Linear mixed effect models were used to analyze changes in loneliness scores, adjusting for relevant demographic and health factors.

Main Results:

• Cochlear implant users showed significant reductions in loneliness scores at both 6 months (P <.001) and 12 months (P =.007) compared to baseline.
• Hearing aid users did not demonstrate significant improvements in loneliness scores at either 6 months (P =.381) or 12 months (P = .007).
• The greatest improvements in loneliness were observed in participants with the most severe loneliness symptoms at the study's outset.

Conclusions:

• Cochlear implant intervention effectively reduces loneliness symptoms in adults with hearing loss.
• Hearing aids did not yield a significant reduction in loneliness in this study population.
• The positive impact of CIs on loneliness is more substantial for individuals experiencing greater baseline loneliness.