A new study published on May 12 in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals that hearing interventions significantly reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults with untreated hearing loss, highlighting a potential public health strategy to enhance social well-being in aging populations. 

The research, led by Dr. Nicholas S. Reed, audiologist and researcher at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine, analyzed data from a three-year randomized controlled trial involving 977 adults aged 70 to 84 years.

All participants had untreated hearing loss and no significant cognitive impairments.  Participants were randomly assigned to either a hearing intervention group—which included four sessions with a certified audiologist, hearing aids, counseling, and education—or a health education control group, which attended four sessions with a health educator.

The study tracked changes in social network size and loneliness every six months over the course of three years.  The findings showed that while both groups experienced some reduction in social network size, the decline was less pronounced among those who received the hearing intervention.

Social isolation metrics—such as network size, diversity, and embeddedness—improved significantly in the hearing group, with differences of 1.05, 0.19, and 0.27, respectively, compared to the control group. Moreover, participants in the hearing intervention group reported notable reductions in feelings of loneliness, with a difference of −0.94 in fully adjusted models. 

“These results suggest that hearing interventions are not just about improving hearing—they also play a vital role in supporting social connection and emotional health among older adults,” the authors noted. 

Given the widespread prevalence of hearing loss in the elderly and the existing infrastructure for hearing aid delivery, researchers propose that addressing hearing issues could serve as an effective public health measure to curb social isolation and loneliness at the population level. 

While some study authors disclosed industry affiliations, the core findings offer compelling evidence for policymakers and healthcare providers to consider hearing interventions as part of routine geriatric care.