Hearing Aid Adoption among Old Adults Diagnosed with Presbycusis

Abstract

Objectives. Presbycusis or age-related hearing loss is one of the most common health conditions among old adults. This study aimed to investigate the hearing aid adoption and hearing handicap among old adults diagnosed with presbycusis. 

Methods. A cross-sectional study on patients aged 60 years old and above diagnosed with presbycusis who were candidates for hearing aid fitting based on audiometry was done. Audiometry results were reviewed from the records of the PGH - Ear Unit and nearby hearing centers in Manila from January 2022 to June 2024. Those meeting the inclusion criteria were invited to answer a questionnaire through a telephone survey and a total of 51 participated in the study. Respondents were asked questions regarding hearing aid adoption and were requested to answer the screening version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE-S) translated in Filipino to determine the degree of self-perceived hearing handicap.

Results. A total of 51 respondents participated in this study, with a mean (SD) age of 72.02 (8.3) years. For the pure tone audiometry results, the median (IQR) was 57 dB (51.7 to 68.3) on the right ear and 63.3 dB (49.2 to 68.3) on the left ear. The median (IQR) speech discrimination score was 80% (64 to 88) on the right ear and 76% (60 to 84) on the left ear. About 84.31% of respondents, both for those with and without hearing aids, reported mild to severe handicap based on the HHIE-S score. Only 37.25% of respondents were able to acquire hearing aids with a median (IQR) interval from disposition to acquisition and hearing aid use of six (2.5 to 13) months. Two-thirds of the participants (62.75%) who were advised hearing aid use were unable to acquire and use hearing aids. The majority of responses were that hearing aids were expensive followed by no funds or inadequate funds to buy one. 

Conclusion. Hearing aid adoption remains to be low among old adults diagnosed with presbycusis and a major reason for non-adoption is due to socioeconomic costs. Majority of old adults in the study had hearing handicap based on the HHIE-S questionnaire. Further studies locally on hearing aid adoption in this population is recommended.