What Doctors Should Know About Dual Sensory Loss
By Robin Leonard, MA
Researchers in Lighthouse International's Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute completed a study in 2001 on the hearing status of applicants to the Lighthouse's Social Services Departments. Among the topics studied were the extent to which hearing aids and assistive devices are used, the extent to which hearing problems have been addressed and the perceived need for help with hearing. Telephone interviews were collected from Lighthouse applicants (age 18 and older) whose cases were closed during a particular eight-month period.
About the Subjects
Interviews were
conducted with 332 respondents, ranging in age from 18 to 98, with an
average age of 70 years. The majority of respondents were female (67%)
and white (69%). In terms of educational status, 20% had not completed
high school, 32% were high school graduates and 47% had at least some
college education.
Based on self-rated hearing, 39% of respondents had a hearing problem, although only 5% reported having a hearing impairment. The average onset age of hearing loss among these respondents was 65 years, and 89% indicated that they experienced a gradual loss of hearing. More than one-half of respondents experienced hearing loss after the onset of vision impairment. Interestingly, respondents with hearing problems were more likely to report a later onset age of vision impairment than those without.
What We Learned
Among respondents who rated
their hearing as "fair," "poor" or "very poor," 25% were using hearing
aids, in comparison to 6% of those who rated their hearing as
"excellent" or "good."
The majority of people who rated their hearing as "fair," "poor" or "very poor" had not had a hearing aid prescribed, and 14% had hearing aids prescribed but were not using them.
White respondents were significantly more likely to have received a hearing aid prescription (45%) than non-white respondents (10%).
Females were significantly more likely to use prescribed hearing aids (79%) than males (37%).
Only 32% of respondents reportedly had their hearing checked within the past year. One-fourth had their hearing checked more than a year ago (but less than five years ago), while 43% had not had their hearing checked within the past five years.
Only 37% of respondents who reported some degree of hearing problem had their hearing checked within the past year.
34% of respondents with impaired hearing had their hearing checked more than five years ago.
Only 48% of respondents with a hearing problem had spoken to their primary care physician about their hearing.
Respondents who experienced hearing loss after the onset of vision impairment were significantly less likely to have spoken to their primary care physician about their hearing (43%) than those who experienced hearing loss before, or at the same time as, vision impairment (61%).
Only 39% of all respondents with a self-reported hearing problem had been referred to a hearing specialist.
A significantly higher proportion of white respondents had been referred to a hearing specialist (47%) than non-white respondents (21%).
People who reported experiencing the onset of hearing loss after the onset of vision impairment were significantly less likely to be referred to a hearing specialist than those who reported an onset of hearing loss before, or at the same time as, vision impairment.
Approximately one-fourth of all respondents reported that they currently need help with their hearing.
Males were significantly more likely to report needing help with their hearing than were females.
Of all respondents, 20% had a self-reported hearing problem and indicated that they need help with their hearing.
The prevalence of hearing impairment among Lighthouse applicants is likely under-addressed using the current method of obtaining hearing data.
Among those who have hearing problems, unmet needs continue to exist (e.g., infrequent hearing exams and a low rate of hearing aid prescriptions among those who may benefit).
People with hearing problems, particularly those who are non-white and those experiencing a hearing problem after their vision loss, may be less inclined to seek assistance.
Robin Leonard, MA, is a Research Associate at the Arlene
R.Gordon Research Institute, Lighthouse International, New York, NY.
Source: Adapted from Lighthouse International's Aging & Vision newsletter (Summer 2002)
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