![]() ![]() Certain diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, may increase the risk of developing hearing loss. On the other hand, for a marked proportion of those with hearing loss, the condition remains undiagnosed, and even after diagnosis does not receive rehabilitation. The diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss may require several visits to different health care professionals, such as a general practitioner, otorhinolaryngologist and audiologist. Due to the aging of the population, the number of persons with hearing loss is expected to rise substantially in the coming years. It has been reported that in the United States more than 50 % of adults aged 70 and older and over 80 % of persons aged 80 and older have hearing loss. Hearing loss is relatively rare in young adults but its prevalence rises exponentially in older population due to age-related sensorineural hearing loss. Adequate health services should be ensured for older adults with hearing difficulties. However, self-reported hearing difficulty is associated with experiencing unmet health care needs. ![]() Older adults with hearing loss or self-reported hearing difficulty are as likely to use most health services as those without hearing loss. Persons with self-reported hearing difficulty were more likely to perceive unmet health care needs than those without hearing difficulty (OR = 1.7, 95 % CI 1.4–2.1). Hearing was not associated with use of the other health services studied, except presenting for a hearing test. Self-reported hearing difficulty was also associated with higher odds for mental health service use (OR = 2.1 95 % CI 1.2–3.5). ResultsĪfter adjusting for socio-economic and health-related confounders, persons with hearing loss (hearing level of better ear 0.5–2 kHz > 40 dB) were more likely to have used mental health services than those with non-impaired hearing (OR = 3.2, 95 % CI 1.3–7.9). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used. Structured face-to-face interviews were used to assess self-reported hearing difficulty ( n = 1962), use of health services (physician and nurse visits, health examinations, mental health services, physical therapy, health promotion groups, vision test, hearing test, mammography, PSA test) and perceived unmet health care needs. ![]() Hearing loss was determined with screening audiometry ( n = 1680). Methodsĭata on persons aged 65 and older ( n = 2144) drawn from a population-based study, Health 2000, were analyzed. This study investigated the association of hearing loss and self-reported hearing difficulty with the use of health services and unmet health care needs in older adults. Older adults with hearing difficulties face problems of communication which may lead to underuse of health services. ![]()
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