Age-Related Hearing Loss

Lin, Frank R. M.D., Ph.D.

From the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore.

Dr. Lin can be contacted at [email protected] or at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, JHOC 6210, 601 N. Caroline St., Baltimore, MD 21287.

Patrick G. O'Malley, M.D., M.P.H., Editor

Disclosure forms provided by the author are available with the full text of this article at NEJM.org.

New England Journal of Medicine 390(16):p 1505-1512, April 25, 2024. | DOI: 10.1056/NEJMcp2306778

Key Clinical Points

Age-Related Hearing Loss

Age-related declines in hearing gradually and progressively affect every person during life, initially manifesting as difficulty understanding speech in background noise or other specific situations.
Age-related hearing loss detrimentally affects communication and social functioning and is considered to be one of the most clinically significant risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia.
Management of age-related hearing loss is focused on the use of communication strategies and technologies (hearing aids and cochlear implants) to increase the clarity of the speech signal.
Evidence from a randomized trial suggests that hearing aid use can improve communication and quality of life and may reduce cognitive loss within 3 years in older adults who are at risk for cognitive decline.
Technology and regulatory changes now enable adults to self-test and track their hearing using a smartphone (www.hearingnumber.org) and to purchase over-the-counter hearing aids. This approach aligns with broader trends toward empowering consumers with knowledge and options to act on their own health without a clinician intermediary.

Age-Related Hearing Loss

Hearing progressively declines with age, manifesting initially as difficulty understanding speech in background noise and detrimentally affecting social functioning. Strategies and technologies can increase speech-signal clarity.