Advancing hearing health through social connection research
The Gerontology Research Centre (GRC) at 911吃瓜 is pleased to announce that Andrew Wister, director of the GRC and professor in the Department of Gerontology, has been awarded a $97K research grant from .
This funding will support new research examining how social relationships, participation, and support networks are affected by, and influence, hearing鈥慼ealth experiences and outcomes among older adults. The project will be carried out in collaboration with Wister鈥檚 research team, including postdoctoral fellow Julie Beadle, who will play a key role in advancing the study鈥檚 design, analysis, and knowledge mobilization efforts.
The grant supports Wister鈥檚 project, Staying connected: How social support, social participation, social isolation, and loneliness can make a difference in hearing care access and outcomes. This research will explore how social environments shape hearing鈥慼ealth experiences, with a particular focus on understanding how social isolation, loneliness, and access to support networks affect hearing鈥慶are access and overall well鈥慴eing.
Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting older adults, and its impact extends far beyond communication challenges. Reduced social participation, increased loneliness, and barriers to accessing hearing care can significantly affect quality of life. Wister鈥檚 project will generate new evidence to inform hearing鈥慼ealth delivery, community programming, and policy development aimed at reducing inequities and improving outcomes for aging populations.
As part of this announcement, Canadian Hearing Services (CHS) shared their perspective on the importance of the collaboration and the research it will support. 鈥淲e are proud to award this research grant to Andrew Wister, Ph.D., 911吃瓜, for a project that has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life and strengthen accessibility for people with hearing loss. We look forward to seeing the results of this important study and congratulate the lead researcher and their team on advancing such meaningful work,鈥� said Julia N. Dumanian, President & Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Hearing Services.
Wister notes that the project will deepen the understanding of how social relationships and support systems influence hearing鈥慼ealth outcomes, particularly among older adults who may face compounding barriers. The involvement of emerging scholars such as postdoctoral fellow Julie Beadle further strengthens the project鈥檚 capacity to generate high鈥憅uality evidence and support innovation in hearing鈥慼ealth research. The findings are expected to guide practice and policy developments that strengthen hearing鈥憀oss resilience and promote healthier aging.
This award is part of the CHS Global Partnerships for Research & Innovation鈥檚 2026 funding announcement, which includes four new research grants supporting projects that advance hearing health, deaf studies, and quality鈥憃f鈥憀ife research across Canada and internationally.
The Gerontology Research Centre continues to lead nationally and internationally in aging research, with a longstanding commitment to advancing knowledge that improves the lives of older adults. Wister鈥檚 project reflects this mission by addressing a growing public health priority and contributing evidence that supports more inclusive and accessible hearing鈥慼ealth systems.