Hearing aids cut the risk of an early death by a quarter.
Hearing aids cut the risk of an early death
US researchers have discovered that individuals with hearing loss were 24 per cent less likely to pass away early if they regularly wore the device - compared to those who did not wear it.
The team believe that the "exciting" results - based on a study of around 10,000 people - prove that hearing aids protect health and increase lifespan.
They think that the effect is down to hearing aids lowering the risk of cognitive decline and enhancing physical, social and mental wellbeing in wearers.
Dr. Janet Choi, lead author of the research and an ear, nose and throat surgeon at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, 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."