Protecting Overall Health in the Golden Years
by Lindsay B. Robinson, HIA Program Manager
October 1, 2025
We don’t call them the golden years for nothing. In American culture, retirement age and beyond is a time for peace, happiness, and enjoying the rewards of a long career. However, along with older age often comes an increased need to set aside time and resources for healthcare. One of the simplest items on your healthcare checklist that can help preserve security, independence, and overall quality of life is caring for your hearing health. On the 35th United Nations International Day of Older Persons, know the facts about hearing health and how addressing hearing difficulty can transform your day to day life.
After age 55, the prevalence of hearing loss greatly increases, with 32% of individuals aged 75-84 and 54% of those 85 and over report having hearing difficulty.1 We may overlook hearing difficulty as a simple frustration of older age, but in fact, hearing loss is treatable and can help reduce the risk of other complications in the following ways:
- Balance and Safety – In a recent study, there was a significant difference in fall risk between those who chose to treat hearing loss and those who did not. Treating hearing loss with hearing aids reduced the risk of accidental injury and falls.2
- Staying Sharp – Treating hearing loss with hearing aids may help support brain health. Although the association between the two isn’t fully understood, it has been suggested that hearing health supports brain functioning and feelings of social inclusion.3
- Mental Health – In a large national study on US adults and mental health, it was found that increased levels of hearing loss suggested increased occurrence of psychological distress and uptake of mental health medications. Individuals who chose to treat their hearing loss with hearing aids had less risk of depression and were less likely to utilize mental health services.4
- Health Care Costs – Due to the connection between hearing health and risks of falls and other comorbidities, individuals with healthy hearing saved 26% in health care costs over two years compared to the group who lived with untreated hearing loss.5
- Longevity – People who report regular use of hearing aids were found to have an increased life expectation compared to those living with untreated hearing loss.6
Whether it’s you or someone in your life who is experiencing hearing difficulty, there are ways of treating it to continue your normal activities and enjoy a better quality of life. Hearing Industries Association research shows that 82% of current hearing aid owners are satisfied with their technology.1 With new innovations being released every year, there are many choices and price points to treat your unique hearing and lifestyle needs. Your options can be discussed with a local licensed hearing care professional where you can even ask for trials of the newest technology!
1 Dobyan, B. Sobek, JD, & A. Powers, T.A., PhD. (2025, August 13). MarkeTrak 2025: Hearing Aids in the age of OTCs and Wearables. The Hearing Review. https://hearingreview.com/inside-hearing/research/marketrak-2025-hearing-aids-in-the-age-of-otcs-and-wearables
2 Tiase VL, Tang K, Vawdrey DK, Raso R, Adelman JS, Yu SP, Applebaum JR, Lalwani AK. Impact of Hearing Loss on Patient Falls in the Inpatient Setting. Am J Prev Med. 2020 Jun;58(6):839-844. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.01.019. PMID: 32444002.
3 Hearing loss and the Dementia Connection. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2021, November 12). https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/hearing-loss-and-the-dementia-connection#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20hearing%20loss,is%20less%20engaged%20and%20active.
4 Bigelow RT, Reed NS, Brewster KK, Huang A, Rebok G, Rutherford BR, Lin FR. Association of Hearing Loss with Psychological Distress and Utilization of Mental Health Services Among Adults in the United States. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Jul 1;3(7):e2010986. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.10986. PMID: 32687587; PMCID: PMC7372323.
5 Patients with Untreated Hearing Loss Incur Higher Health Care Costs Over Time | Johns Hopkins. (2018). Retrieved 20 May 2022, from https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2018/patients-with-untreated-hearing-loss-incur-higher-health-care-costs-over-time#:~:text=Older%20adults%20with%20untreated%20hearing%20loss%20incur%20substantially%20higher%20total,Bloomberg%20School%20of%20Public%20Health
6 Choi JS, Adams ME, Crimmins EM, Lin FR, Ailshire JA. Association between hearing aid use and mortality in adults with hearing loss in the USA: a mortality follow-up study of a cross-sectional cohort. The Lancet healthy-longevity. Vol 5 January 2024. https://soundcheckmap.org/map
