Mental, physical and social issues may be worse for older people that are affected by hearing loss. The fourth leading cause of years lived with a disability is because of this condition across the globe.
Hearing ability is closely linked with communication. Hearing loss can also lead to communication barriers. This can lead to a lot of stress and may confine people indoors. Some studies have also found it has links to dementia.
University of Tsukuba researchers wanted to understand the relationship between a range of illnesses and hear loss among the elderly.
For the study, the team examined a 2016 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions of Japan, which included 220,000 households. They zeroed in on137,723 survey respondents, who were 65 or older. Some of the respondents suffered from dementia. They discovered a clear association between hearing loss and three crucial areas through their investigation.
"Japan is the world's most rapidly ageing country, and this is a large and compelling data set of its citizens," study's lead author Masao Iwagami, told a news portal. Adding, "It was a solid foundation for examining correlations between hearing loss and three key problems: outdoor activity limitations, psychological distress, and memory loss."
They also discovered out of the 137,723 survey respondents they examined, 9 per cent of them suffered from hearing loss. They also found the condition got worse with age.
"Hearing loss takes an enormous toll on older people in so many ways, physically and mentally, while limiting activities of daily living," study co-author Yoko Kobayashi told a news portal. Adding, "Greater awareness of the burden of hearing loss will help improve their quality of life."
Kobayashi further explained: "Measures such as hearing aids and social support by volunteers in the community can also provide them with assistance."
The study's findings were originally published in the journal Geriatrics & Gerontology International.
