Sensory Loss and Social Connection in Older Adults: A Narrative Review

Alison R Huang; Jonathan J Suen; Louay Almidani; Ziheng Chen

doi:10.1016/j.cger.2025.04.005

Sensory Loss and Social Connection in Older Adults: A Narrative Review

Clin Geriatr Med. 2025 Aug;41(3):329-341. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2025.04.005. Epub 2025 May 27.

Authors

Alison R Huang¹, Jonathan J Suen², Louay Almidani³, Ziheng Chen⁴

Affiliations

¹ Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: arhuang7@gmail.com.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

PMID: 40653338
DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2025.04.005

Abstract

Sensory losses, particularly hearing and vision impairments, are highly prevalent among older adults and significantly impact social connection. These losses contribute to communication difficulties, increased cognitive load, and reduced participation in social activities. Environmental and physiologic factors, along with chronic conditions and health behaviors, further influence the severity of sensory decline. Disparities exist based on age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status. This article explores the epidemiology of sensory loss, its mechanisms affecting social connection, and highlights the critical role of treatment and clinician intervention in enhancing social connectedness among older adults experiencing sensory impairment.

Keywords: Aging; Hearing; Loneliness; Sensory loss; Social isolation; Vision.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Hearing Loss* / epidemiology
Hearing Loss* / psychology
Humans
Interpersonal Relations*
Vision Disorders* / epidemiology
Vision Disorders* / psychology