• Piers Dawes, Karen J Cruickshanks, Mary E Fischer, Barbara E K Klein, Ronald Klein, and David M Nondahl.
• a * School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester , UK.
• Int J Audiol. 2015 Jan 1; 54 (11): 838-44.

ObjectiveTo clarify the impact of hearing aids on mental health, social engagement, cognitive function, and physical health outcomes in older adults with hearing impairment.DesignWe assessed hearing handicap (hearing handicap inventory for the elderly; HHIE-S), cognition (mini mental state exam, trail making, auditory verbal learning, digit-symbol substitution, verbal fluency, incidence of cognitive impairment), physical health (SF-12 physical component, basic and instrumental activities of daily living, mortality), social engagement (hours per week spent in solitary activities), and mental health (SF-12 mental component) at baseline, five years prior to baseline, and five and 11 years after baseline.Study SampleCommunity-dwelling older adults with hearing impairment (N = 666) from the epidemiology of hearing loss study cohort.ResultsThere were no significant differences between hearing-aid users and non-users in cognitive, social engagement, or mental health outcomes at any time point. Aided HHIE-S was significantly better than unaided HHIE-S. At 11 years hearing-aid users had significantly better SF-12 physical health scores (46.2 versus 41.2; p = 0.03). There was no difference in incidence of cognitive impairment or mortality.ConclusionThere was no evidence that hearing aids promote cognitive function, mental health, or social engagement. Hearing aids may reduce hearing handicap and promote better physical health.

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