Effects of Wearing Hearing Aids on Gait and Cognition: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Positive effects of hearing aids (HA) have been suggested. However, their impact on gait performance, which is closely associated with hearing loss and cognition, remains unclear. This pilot study assessed the impact of wearing HA on gait performance among patients with age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Methods: This single-arm trial compared gait performance of patients with ARHL before and after wearing HA. Participants diagnosed with ARHL and prescribed HA by an audiologist wore the HA gradually over 1 week. They then underwent a baseline assessment before wearing HA consistently. After wearing the HA for 1 year, participants underwent a follow-up assessment that included evaluations of gait and cognitive performance, fear of falling, incidental falls, and well-being using WHO-5. Results: Of the 10 participants included, one withdrew during the follow-up period. Intention-to-treat analyses showed improvements in gait step time at both usual and maximum paces due to HA use. Cognitive function, including Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores and delayed verbal recall on the logical memory test, also significantly improved at follow-up. Furthermore, reduced fear of falling and increased WHO-5 scores was observed after 1 year of HA use. Conversely, the rate of incidental falls did not decrease. Conclusion: HA use may contribute to improved gait performance and reduced anxiety related to physical function, in addition to cognitive function and well-being. Although the results should be interpreted with caution due to the non-randomized controlled trial design and small sample size, the findings suggest that improving hearing acuity among older adults may enhance overall health status.