Association between age-related hearing loss and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2025

Hearing Loss and Depression in Older Adults

Sample size: 25147 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Li Fuyao, Jin Meiling, Ma Tianyi, Cui Chunlian

Primary Institution: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Yanbian University Affiliated Hospital, Yanji City, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province, China

Hypothesis

This meta-analysis examined the relationship between age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and depression in older adults, and further explored whether this relationship is moderated by age and gender.

Conclusion

Patients with ARHL are more likely to be depressed than older adults with normal hearing, and this relationship is influenced by the gender of the patients.

Supporting Evidence

Older adults with ARHL had higher depressive symptom scores than non-ARHL older adults.
The effect size of depression in older adults with ARHL was significantly associated with the percentage of females.
Meta-regression showed no significant association between depression and age.

Takeaway

Older people who have trouble hearing are more likely to feel sad, especially if they are women.

Methodology

This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 studies, using Hedges’ g as the effect size and random-effects models for pooled analyses.