People using aids within three years of a hearing loss diagnosis are 18 per cent less likely to develop dementia, a survey shows.
Wearing the devices also cuts the chance of falls by 13 per cent, while the risk of depression is reduced by 11 per cent.
Experts hope the results of the poll of 115,000 people aged 66 and over will spark research into the link.
Study leader Elham Mahmoudi, a health economist from the Michigan University, said: “We already know that people with hearing loss have more adverse health events but this study allows us to see the effects of an intervention and look for associations between hearing aids and health outcomes.
“Though hearing aids cannot be said to prevent these conditions, a delay in the onset of dementia, depression and the risk
of serious falls could be significant.
“We hope our research will help clinicians and people with hearing loss understand the potential association between getting a hearing aid and other aspects of their health.”
In July, a survey of 25,000 people found hearing aids helped to increase memory and attention.
More than 40 per cent of Brits over 50 years old have hearing loss and this rises to 71 per cent in those over 70.
Roger Wicks, of the Action on Hearing Loss charity, said: “More must be done to encourage greater take up of hearing aids.
“Some areas of the country already have restrictive policies on hearing aid provision – going against all clinical guidelines – in a misguided effort to make short-term savings.”
