MILLIONS of Brits could live longer if they wore hearing aids, a study suggests.
Experts found correcting hearing loss slashed the risk of an early death by 24 per cent.
GettyMillions more people should wear hearing aids, research suggests[/caption]
The gizmos can protect the brain from depression and dementia, which are more likely if someone is lonely or strains to hear.
Charities estimate more than four million people in the UK could benefit from a hearing aid but do not wear one.
Dr Janet Choi, from the University of Southern California, studied medical records from 9,885 people in the US.
She said: “We found that adults with hearing loss who regularly used hearing aids had a 24 per cent lower risk of mortality than those who never wore them.
“These results are exciting because they suggest that hearing aids may play a protective role in people’s health and prevent early death.”
The study, in the journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity, classed regular use as at least five hours per week.
Dr Choi said past studies have found hearing loss shortens your lifespan but not if hearing aids could reverse the effect.
Research shows wearing them slows brain decline as we age and slashes the risk of dementia, the UK’s top cause of death.
Deaf people are also more likely to be lonely, which is linked to depression and dying younger.
Dr Choi added that regular hearing aid use may show that someone is more health-conscious and more likely to get medical help.
One in five adults in the UK have some level of hearing loss – more than 10million people – with most over the age of 60.
The charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People estimates 6.7m people could benefit from hearing aids but only about 2m use them.
Most people can get hearing aids free on the NHS or they cost between £500 to £3,500 privately.
Crystal Rolfe, of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, said: “Hearing aids bring enormous benefits for people with hearing loss.
“Research shows that wearing hearing aids may reduce the risk of cognitive decline, and it is well known that they have positive effects on physical, social, emotional and mental wellbeing.
“Now it’s possible that hearing aids may even help people with hearing loss live longer, and we would welcome more research to understand the link.”
Check your hearing with the RNID’s online test.