- Title
- Use of hearing aids and assistive listening devices in an older Australian population
- Creator
- Hartley, David; Rochtchina, Elena; Newall, Philip; Golding, Maryanne; Mitchell, Paul
- Relation
- Journal of the American Academy of Audiology Vol. 21, Issue 10, p. 642-653
- Relation
- http://www.audiology.org/resources/journal
- Publisher
- American Academy of Audiology
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2010
- Description
- 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.
- Subject
- aging; assistive listening device; Blue Mountains Hearing Study; hearing aids; hearing loss; prevalence studies; self-reported handicap
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/929585
- Identifier
- uon:10626
- Identifier
- ISSN:1050-0545
- Language
- eng
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