Optimizing work performance and engagement in adults with hearing loss: the role of hearing devices

Hearing loss is a common but under-recognized condition among older adults, linked to fatigue, reduced productivity, social isolation, and early workforce exit. As developed countries face aging workforces, there is a critical need to understand how hearing device usage influences occupational outcomes. This study analyzed cross-sectional data from the Hearing Impairment in Adults: A Longitudinal Outcomes Study, involving 227 Australian adults aged 40 + using hearing aids, cochlear implants, or both (bimodal). We examined whether work functioning and performance differed between the three hearing device groups. After multivariate adjustment, total individual work performance scores were significantly higher (indicating a better outcome) among cochlear implant (2.26) and bimodal users (2.31) than hearing aid users (2.08, p < 0.05). Similarly, multivariate-adjusted mean total Utrecht Work Engagement Scale scores were significantly higher (better outcome) in cochlear implant (4.16) and bimodal users (4.50) than hearing aid users (3.97, p < 0.05). This novel study highlights that adult cochlear implant and bimodal users exhibit significantly better work performance and engagement compared to hearing aid users, ever after multivariate adjustment. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing hearing care strategies, particularly in countries with rapidly aging workforces, to better support older adults’ occupational functioning and productivity.