Abstract
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? More than half of Chinese older adults over 60 are suffering from hearing loss (HL), which might increase the risk of depressive symptoms. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? The results indicated a significant association between severe or profound HL and depressive symptoms, characterized by notable age and gender disparities, particularly among women aged 60-74 years old. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? Timely intervention and treatment for elderly individuals with HL, particularly younger female elders suffering from severe or profound HL, are pivotal in reducing depressive symptom rates and are key policy considerations.