Over-the-counter hearing aids reduce depression symptoms in older adults with hearing loss: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that hearing loss doubles the risk of depression in older adults, and this parallel, randomized, controlled, open-label trial aims to assess the effectiveness of community health worker-delivered over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids on depression symptoms in this population. The primary outcome is the change in depression symptoms at 6 months from baseline. Secondary outcomes include communication function, loneliness and social isolation. Older adults aged 60 years or older with mild to moderately severe hearing loss were randomized 1/1 to the OTC hearing aid intervention (n = 109) or a wait-list control group (n = 112) between 1 April and 5 July 2023. Depression symptoms, as measured by the short Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), improved in the intervention group at 6 months (mean difference –1.65; 95% confidence interval 1.18, 1.58; P < 0.001). Similar improvements were seen in communication function, social isolation and loneliness. Approximately 80% of participants maintained >4 hours of hearing aid use per day. No adverse events were reported in this trial. The study demonstrated that community health worker-delivered OTC hearing aids are effective in reducing depression symptoms in older adults with hearing loss. Trial registration: ChiCTR2300069838 . In this randomized controlled trial, the authors investigate the benefits of over-the-counter hearing aids on depression symptoms in older adults with mild–moderate hearing loss.