hearing aids

Hearing Aids for Adults With Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss

Nathan Hinkle — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:18:58 +0000

Date Added:

August 4, 2026

Journal/Publication:

Journal of the American Medical Association

Publisher:

The American Medical Association

Publication Date:

May 27, 2026

Issue:

Volume:

336

Pages:

334-335

URL:

Hearing Aids for Adults With Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

doi:10.1001/jama.2026.4740

Keywords

MeSH

Hearing Loss, Sensorineural

RPR Commentary: What all primary care physicians should know about hearing aids in adults. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Hearing loss is defined as an impaired ability to hear sounds at thresholds considered to be normal. Projections based on audiometric data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimate that by 2030, approximately 55 million US adults will have hearing loss, including 35 million with mild loss (25-40 dB) and nearly 20 million with moderate or greater loss (>40 dB).1 The most common cause of hearing loss among hearing aid users is bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to cochlear hair cell or auditory nerve degeneration. Functional effects of hearing loss differ with severity. Mild hearing loss may affect the ability to understand speech in noisy environments; moderate or greater hearing loss affects the ability to have individual conversations in a quiet room.

Author/s:

Karina C. De Sousa, De Wet Swanepoel

Hearing Aids for Adults With Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss

Megan George — Fri, 29 May 2026 19:31:08 +0000

Date Added:

May 29, 2026

Journal/Publication:

JAMA

Publication Date:

May 27, 2026

URL:

Hearing Aids for Adults With Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2026.4740

Keywords

PMID (1):

42201716

MeSH

Hearing Loss, Sensorineural

Hair Cells

Auditory Perception

Social Isolation

A review of hearing aids, types, characteristics, benefits, and limitations in adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Untreated hearing loss is associated with social isolation that can reduce quality of life.2 A meta-analysis of 5 randomized trials (825 adults with mild to moderate hearing loss) that compared those not receiving hearing aids with those who received hearing aids that amplified sounds via air conduction had improved ability to discriminate sound and speech and hearing-related quality of life based on Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly,2 which quantifies self-perceived functional and emotional hearing handicap (such as negative feelings and psychological distress from communication problems). The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly scores (lower scores indicate less handicap; scale, 0-100) improved by −26.5 (95% CI, −42.2 to −10.8) points with hearing aids, exceeding the minimal clinically important difference of 18.7 points.2

Amplification with hearing aids is the primary treatment for hearing loss, but use is limited. Traditional Medicare does not cover hearing aids, and coverage for associated services remains limited. In a nationally representative cohort using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, hearing aid use among US adults aged 71 years and older with hearing loss was 29.2% in 2021, including 14.4% among those with mild loss and 45.3% among those with moderate hearing loss.3 Although reasons for nonuse were not directly assessed, lower-income individuals, along with those who have milder degrees of hearing loss, are less likely to use hearing aids.3 Until recently, hearing aids in the US could only be obtained through licensed hearing care professionals such as audiologists. However, since October 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration has allowed adults to buy hearing aid devices without a medical examination, prescription, or professional fitting. This regulatory change has enabled over-the-counter (OTC) direct-to-consumer hearing aids, with potential to broaden access.

Author/s:

Karina C. De Sousa, De Wet Swanepoel

How useful are direct-to-consumer hearing aids?

Alex Haga — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 18:20:43 +0000

Date Added:

August 11, 2024

Journal/Publication:

Canadian Family Physician

Publication Date:

July 1, 2024

Issue:

7-8

Volume:

Pages:

475

URL:

How useful are direct-to-consumer hearing aids?

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.46747/cfp.700708475

Keywords

PMID (1):

39122435

MeSH

Hearing Aids

quality of life

Speech Intelligibility

Hearing Loss

Hearing

Deafness

Information on direct-to-consumer hearing aids for clinicians and patients. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Clinical question
Do self-fitted hearing aids improve hearing for adults with mild to moderately severe hearing loss?

Bottom line
Some, not all, direct-to-consumer (DTC) self-fitted hearing aids are likely comparable to audiogram-fitted conventional hearing aids and tend to cost less.

Author/s:

Émélie Braschi, Samantha S Moe