Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
09:44
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
19.1K
Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Functional Status
Sahar Assi1,2, Erica Twardzik2, Anna M Kucharska-Newton3
1Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
JAMA Otolaryngology-- Head & Neck Surgery
|July 3, 2024
Summary
Moderate or greater hearing loss is linked to functional difficulties and a faster decline in daily activities among older adults. Hearing aid use did not alter this association in the study.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hearing loss is a prevalent condition in older adults.
- It may negatively impact functional status through cognitive and social pathways.
- Hearing aids are hypothesized to mitigate these effects, but population data are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between hearing loss and functional status in older adults.
- To examine the role of hearing aids in modifying this association.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort data (2016-2022).
- Participants categorized by hearing loss severity (none, mild, moderate or greater) based on better-hearing ear's pure tone average.
- Functional status assessed via self-reported difficulties in activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and performance of heavier tasks.
Main Results:
- Moderate or greater hearing loss was associated with increased difficulties in activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and heavier tasks.
- Longitudinally, moderate or greater hearing loss predicted a faster decline in functional abilities.
- No significant difference in functional status was observed between hearing aid users and non-users.
Conclusions:
- Moderate to severe hearing loss is independently associated with functional limitations and accelerated functional decline in older adults.
- Current hearing aid use did not appear to modify the relationship between hearing loss and functional status in this cohort.
- Further research is needed to understand the protective role of hearing interventions.
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