Loneliness will be exacerbated by poor hearing

A new study has found that hearing aids can play a powerful role in reducing loneliness among older adults.


Research published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that seniors who were given hearing aids retained more social connections over time than those who were not. On average, participants with hearing aids maintained one more person in their social network over three years compared to those who only received general healthy ageing advice.


“These results support efforts to incorporate hearing aid coverage into Medicare as a means of addressing the nation’s social isolation epidemic, which is especially risky for the elderly,” said co-principal investigator Dr Josef Coresh, professor of population health at NYU Langone Health.

Why hearing matters


Hearing loss affects around two-thirds of Australians aged 70 and older, making it one of the most common conditions in older age. And it’s more than just a medical issue – hearing is essential for communication, socialising, and staying connected to the world.


When hearing declines, it can become difficult to participate in conversations, maintain relationships, and enjoy social events. Over time, this can lead to social isolation and loneliness, both of which are known risk factors for depression, cognitive decline, and poor physical health.

Study highlights the benefits of hearing aids


For this clinical trial, researchers tracked nearly 1,000 adults aged 70 to 84 across four U.S. states – Maryland, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Mississippi.

Half of the participants were provided:
  • Hearing aids
  • Counselling sessions
  • Personalised instruction from an audiologist
  • Additional tools, such as adaptors to connect hearing aids to TVs

The other half received healthy ageing tips but no hearing devices.


The results showed a clear social benefit for the group using hearing aids – a reminder of how much communication matters, especially in later life.

Access to hearing support in Australia


In Australia, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Hearing Services Program helps eligible people access subsidised or partly subsidised hearing aids and related services.


However, the cost of high-end devices can still be significant. Advanced models from brands like Phonak and Oticon can cost almost $4,000 per hearing aid.


For many older Australians, better support and wider access to affordable hearing solutions could be a key step in tackling loneliness and improving overall wellbeing.

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A special thanks to our contributors

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Caroline Egan

DCM Media, agedcare101

Caroline has a wealth of experience writing within the retirement and aged care sector and is a contributing journalist for the Villages.com.au and agedcare101 blog and accompanying newsletters.

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Ian Horswill

Journalist

Ian is a journalist, writer and sub-editor for the aged care sector, working at The DCM Group. He writes for The Weekly Source, agedcare101, villages.com.au and the DCM Institute fortnightly newsletter Friday. Ian is in daily contact with CEOs of retirement living, land lease and the aged care operations and makes a new contact every week. He investigates media releases, LinkedIn and Facebook for a good source for ideas for stories.

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Lauren Broomham

Retirement and Aged Care Journalist

Lauren is a journalist for villages.com.au, agedcare101 and The Donaldson Sisters. Growing up in a big family in small town communities, she has always had a love for the written word, joining her local library at the age of six months. With over eight years' experience in writing and editing, she is a keen follower of news and current affairs with a nose for a good story.

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Jill Donaldson

Physiotherapist

Jill has been practicing as a clinical physiotherapist for 30 years. For the last 13 years she has worked solely in the Aged Care sector in more than 50 metropolitan and regional facilities. Jill has also toured care facilities in the US and Africa and is a passionate advocate for both the residents in aged care and the staff who care for them. She researches and writes for DCM Media.

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Chris Baynes

DCM Media, agedcare101

Chris has been a journalist and publisher in the retirement village and aged care sectors for 11 years. He has visited over 250 retirement villages and 50 aged care facilities both within Australia and internationally. Chris is a regular speaker at industry conferences plus is a frequent radio commentator.

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Annie Donaldson

Nurse and Carer

Annie has a long career in both nursing and the media. She has planned and co-ordinated the medical support from both international TV productions and major stadium events. In recent years she has been a primary family carer plus involved in structured carer support.