Do you have hearing loss and want to stay better connected to others as you age? A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine says wearing hearing aids can help.
The study’s results showed that people with hearing aids kept an average of one additional person in their social network over three years compared to those who received healthy aging tips but no hearing aids.1
About the Study
Researchers followed almost 1,000 adults aged 70–84 with hearing loss for three years. Half were given hearing aids, along with personalized instruction and counseling from an audiologist. The other half received healthy aging advice, including tips on how to best communicate with providers and ways to exercise.
To assess the participants’ social isolation, researchers examined the variety and size of their social networks and how often they spent time with other people.
Although all participants reported feeling about the same level of loneliness at the start of the study, loneliness scores had improved slightly in the group who wore hearing aids by the end. The ones who didn’t wear them had slightly worse loneliness scores.
Combating the Loneliness Epidemic
Loneliness and social isolation among seniors are common: A third of them say they are lonely, and over 25% admit they have little to no contact with other people.1
While it can be easy to brush off loneliness as no big deal, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a report in 2023 stating that Americans were experiencing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, increasing one’s risk of health issues like stroke, dementia and heart disease.2
However, studies like the one recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine offer a ray of hope.
“Our findings add to evidence that helping aging patients hear better can also enrich their social lives and boost their mental and physical well-being,” said Lead Researcher Nicholas Reed.1
At SH Audiology, we have hearing aid options for every budget. Call (415) 362-2901 to make an appointment.
1 Thompson, D. (2025). Hearing aids effectively combat seniors’ loneliness, study says. UPI. https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2025/05/13/hearing-aids-loneliness-study/1201747154793/
2 Summers, J et al. (2023). America has a loneliness epidemic. Here are 6 steps to address it. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/05/02/1173418268/loneliness-connection-mental-health-dementia-surgeon-general
