Exploring Factors Related to Self-perceived Hearing Handicap in the Elderly with Moderate to Moderately-severe Hearing Loss

Abstract

Objectives:The aims of this study were to compare the performance related to audiometric, cognitive function, and depression variables between the elderly with mild-to-moderate hearing handicap and the elderly with severe hearing handicap, to identify which factors are correlated with their self-perceived hearing handicap, and to determine which factors can distinguish the elderly with mild-to-moderate hearing handicap from the elderly with severe hearing handicap. Methods: A total of 22 elderly patients with moderate to moderately-severe hearing loss participated in this study. The Korean version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (K-HHIE) was administered to obtain their hearing handicap scores. All patients underwent audiometric, cognitive function, and depression assessments. Results: We found a significant differences in the average hearing threshold, sentence recognition scores in noise, and depression scores between the two groups. The scores of the K-HHIE significantly correlated with the average hearing threshold, sentence recognition scores in noise, and depression scores in all elderly patients with hearing loss. In the logistic regression analysis, sentence recognition scores of +5 dB SNR were a significant factor for differentiating between the two groups. Conclusion: The hearing threshold, speech perception in noise, and depression level are significantly associated with self-perceived hearing handicap in the elderly with moderate to moderately-severe hearing loss. These results indicate that audiometric and depression assessments are need to provide appropriate auditory-habilitation services for cognitively normal elderly with moderate to moderately-severe hearing loss.

Analysis of Chronic Tinnitus in Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Presbycusis

“…Patients with noise-induced hearing loss in the study reported more severe hearing loss and more severe subjective tinnitus than patients with presbycusis. It showed the same results as previous studies [10].…”

“…Patients with noise-induced hearing loss were defined as those with a history of exposure to noise, such as workers in the mining and machinery industries. The hearing threshold was ≥25 dB, as calculated using the six-division method ((500 Hz + 2 × 1 kHz + 2 × 2 kHz + 4 kHz)/6) on PTA [9,10]. Patients with presbycusis were defined as those aged ≥65 years without a history of noise exposure, with a hearing threshold of ≥25 dB as calculated using the six-division method on PTA.…”

Association of Metabolic Syndrome with Sensorineural Hearing Loss

“…Hearing threshold tests were performed at frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz, measured in that order, followed by a retest at 1000 Hz, with air conduction measured at a frequency of 500 Hz. Pure tone audiometry was performed using the standard hexadecimal method, by measuring the air conduction values of each ear at four frequencies (500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz) and calculating their sum using the equation: (500 Hz + 2 × 1000 Hz + 2 × 2000 Hz + 4000 Hz)/6 [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Status of People with Hearing Loss in Korea: Findings of from the 2000 to 2020 Nationwide Survey of People with Disabilities

“…국내 청각장애인 수는 꾸준히 증가하는 추세로, 최근 급격한 청각장애인 증가 원인 중 하나는 인구 고령화이다 (Lim & Chae, 2011;Shin, 2013). 2025년 국내 초고령사회의 진입 (Kim & Han, 2017;Lee, 2017)과 함께 노화성 난청으로 인한 난청 인 구의 증가 (Kim & Yeo, 2015;Williger & Lang, 2014) (Kang, 2022;Lee et al, 2020;Son & Heo, 2018;Thak et al, 2022)…”