Document Detail


Use of hearing AIDS and assistive listening devices in an older Australian population.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21376005     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Background: Hearing loss is a common sensory impairment experienced by older persons. Evidence shows that the use of hearing aids and/or assistive listening devices (ALDs) can benefit those with a hearing loss but that historically the uptake and use of these technologies has remained relatively low compared with the number of people who report a hearing loss. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, usage, and factors associated with the use of hearing aids and ALDs in an older representative Australian population. Research Design: A population-based survey. Study Sample: A total of 2956 persons out of 3914 eligible people between the ages of 49 and 99 yr (mean age 67.4 yr), living in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, completed a hearing study conducted from 1997 to 2003. Data Collection and Analysis: Hearing levels were assessed using pure tone audiometry, and subjects were administered a comprehensive hearing survey by audiologists, which included questions about hearing aid and ALD usage. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with hearing aid and ALD usage. Results: Of the surveyed population, 33% had a hearing loss as measured in the better ear. 4.4% had used an ALD in the past 12 mo, and 11% owned a hearing aid. Of current hearing aid owners, 24% never used their aids. ALD and hearing aid usage were found to be associated with increasing age, hearing loss, and self-perceived hearing disability. Conclusions: These results indicate that hearing aid ownership and ALD usage remains low in the older population. Given the significant proportion of older people who self-report and have a measured hearing loss, it is possible that more could be helped through the increased use of hearing aid and/or ALD technology. Greater efforts are needed to promote the benefits of these technologies and to support their use among older people with hearing loss.
Authors:
David Hartley; Elena Rochtchina; Philip Newall; Maryanne Golding; Paul Mitchell
Related Documents :
16800225 - The introduction of halothane into clinical practice: the oxford experience.
16219485 - Methodology to ease the construction of a terminology of problems.
6655705 - Construct validity of the marital communication inventory.
10735995 - Serovars of mycobacterium avium complex isolated from aids and non-aids patients in spain.
12289345 - Order on programmes of assistance favouring emigrants, 15 january 1988.
18049895 - Path models of quality of life among people with schizophrenia living in the community ...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the American Academy of Audiology     Volume:  21     ISSN:  1050-0545     ISO Abbreviation:  J Am Acad Audiol     Publication Date:    2010 Nov-Dec
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-03-07     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9114646     Medline TA:  J Am Acad Audiol     Country:  Canada    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  642-53     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
American Academy of Audiology.
Affiliation:
HEARing CRC and National Acoustic Laboratories, Australia.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  The North American Listening in Spatialized Noise-Sentences Test (NA LiSN-S): Normative Data and Tes...
Next Document:  A clinical protocol for predicting outcomes with an implantable prosthetic device (baha) in patients...