Seniors who get hearing aids after being recently diagnosed with hearing loss are less likely to be diagnosed with dementia and depression than those without aids, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
The risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia within three years of a hearing loss diagnosis was 18% less than seniors who left their hearing loss uncorrected. Their risk of being diagnosed with anxiety or depression was 11% lower, while the risk of fall-related injuries was 13% lower.
“Though hearing aids can’t be said to prevent these conditions, a delay in the onset of dementia, depression and anxiety and the risk of serious falls could be significant both for the patient and for the costs to the Medicare system,” University of Michigan health economist and lead researcher Elham Mahmoudi, Ph.D., said.
Investigators used eight years of private claims data to study nearly 115,000 seniors.
The study also found that only 12% of seniors who receive a formal hearing loss diagnosis actually get hearing aids, despite having insurance coverage.
From the October 2019 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
