Recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers reveal that hearing aid use reduces the rate of cognitive decline in the aging hearing impaired population. A group of scientists in France collected data over 25 years for a group of 3,670 seniors tracking levels of cognitive ability. Once analyzed, the results showed no difference in cognitive decline between non- hearing impaired adults and hearing impaired adults using hearing aids. However, the hearing impaired adults NOT using hearing aids had significantly lower scores on a test of cognitive function called the Mini-Mental State Examination. Other groups around the world are working on similar studies and if replicated, this new data will change the way the public thinks about hearing care.
