Since the early 80s, we’ve understood that self-reported hearing loss is highly correlated with feelings of loneliness and inferiority, reduced interest in leisure activities and withdrawal from others. Researchers have only recently started focused investigation toward the influence of hearing aid use on subjective perception of loneliness. In this blog, we review the work of Weinstein and colleagues, who found significant loneliness reduction among a group of new hearing aid wearers.
Weinstein, B., Sirow, L. & Moser, S. (2016). Relating hearing aid use to social and emotional loneliness in older adults. American Journal of Audiology 25, 54-61.