Seeing, hearing, and moving: Inequalities in assistive device use and health outcomes among older adults in India

Functional limitations related to hearing, vision, and mobility are common among older adults and may adversely affect mental health and functional independence. However, nationally representative evidence from India on assistive device use, unmet need, and related health outcomes remains limited....

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✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

No immediate change to clinical practice in high-income settings, but findings underscore that unmet need for hearing assistive devices among older adults in low- and middle-income countries is substantial and linked to worse health outcomes.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

Quantifying inequalities in hearing assistive device access in a large, aging low- and middle-income country population builds the global evidence base needed to advocate for equitable hearing healthcare policy and resource allocation.

✦ Key Points ✦

01Study examines assistive device use (hearing, vision, mobility) among older adults in India and links to health outcomes.
02Inequalities in access are the central focus, with likely disparities by socioeconomic status, gender, and geography.
03Published in Assistive Technology, serving both rehabilitation and health policy audiences.
04Hearing device access is analysed alongside vision and mobility, allowing cross-domain comparison of unmet need.
05Findings are relevant to global hearing health advocacy and WHO-aligned goals on universal hearing care.

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

Inequalities exist in assistive device use (hearing, vision, mobility) among older adults in India.

studysupported

Assistive device use is associated with improved health outcomes among older Indian adults.

studypartially supported

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42579145
DOI: 10.1080/10400435.2026.2711815.
Journal: Assistive Technology
Publication type: research_article
Evidence level: 2b
Population: Older adults in India
Intervention: Assistive device use for hearing, vision, and mobility
Comparator: Non-users of assistive devices

Primary outcomes

Inequalities in assistive device use across demographic groups; Association between assistive device use and health outcomes

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