Association between hearing status and social participation in Japanese older adults: A cross-sectional study from the Japan gerontological evaluation study

Purpose: Hearing is known to decline with age. As sensitivity to speech declines, conversation becomes more difficult and social interactions are affected, resulting in increased risk of cognitive decline. This study aimed to examine the relationship between hearing status and social participation. Materials and methods: The study included 21,117 adults aged 65 years or older who responded to a survey in 2019. The survey asked participants about their hearing status and how frequently they participated in certain social activities. Results: The analysis of the relationship between degree of hearing and social activity showed lower hearing status odds ratios for those who participated more frequently in social activities compared to those who participated less frequently. The odds ratios were as follows, hobby clubs (OR 0.81, 95%CI 0.78-0.84), activities such as teaching skills or passing on experiences to others (OR 0.69, 95%CI 0.65-0.75), and meeting with friends (OR 0.77, 95%CI 0.74-0.79). Compared to those who did not participate in social activities, those who participated in three or more types of groups had significantly lower hearing impairment (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.72-0.79). Conclusion: Hearing impairment was shown to inhibit participation in activities, including those that require communication with multiple people or smooth communication, those that involve a wide range of ages, and those that involve work and movement. Hearing impairment should be identified and addressed in its early stages to prevent its negative impact on social participation.