Hearing aid use was linked to fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in patients with dementia, such as apathy and irritability, than nonuse, new research showed.

In a cross-sectional cohort study of more than 10,000 participants, hearing loss was not associated with a significantly greater number of symptoms than no hearing loss. However, the use of hearing aids in individuals with both dementia and hearing loss was linked to significantly fewer and less severe NPS than nonuse.

“Hearing aid use may represent an underutilized, nonpharmacological intervention to address NPS,” lead study author Ahjeetha Shankar, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, and colleagues wrote.

“This study emphasizes the importance of continuing to explore the importance of identifying and addre

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