Nemati S, Saberi A, Jalali M, Gerami H, Karimi Z, Nasirmohtaram S, et al . Hearing Impairment and Hearing Aid Usage in the Elderly of Northern Iran’s Rural Areas: A Field Study. Caspian J Neurol Sci 2022; 8 (1) :60-65
URL:
http://cjns.gums.ac.ir/article-1-502-en.html
1- Oto-Rhinolaryngology Research Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Amiralmomenin Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
2- Department of Neurology, Poursina Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
3- Department of Surgery, Velayat Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
4- Department of Preventive and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
5- Department of Biostatistics, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Abstract: (1405 Views)
Background: Hearing impairment is the most common otolaryngologic manifestation of aging.
Objectives: Few studies have focused on Hearing Loss (HL) in the Iranian “normal” elderly
population. This study aimed to evaluate audiological problems in the normal elderly people of the
rural areas of Rasht City in the north of Iran.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. The elderly population
was selected using the multistage random cluster sampling technique. The study participants were
invited for otolaryngologic examination and recording Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA).
Results: Of 412 elderly subjects over 65 years (52.8% male, 47.2% female, Mean±SD age:
73.5±6.99 years), 137(33.2%) participants complained of HL, and only 1.2% were hearing
aid users. Of the 324 cases that underwent audiological testing, Sensorineural HL (SNHL) was
detected in 290(89.5%), conductive HL in 13(4.01%), mixed HL in one(0.3%), and normal hearing
in 20(6.17%) cases. SNHL was mild in 173(59.65%), moderate in 90(31.0%), and severe to
profound in 27(9.31%) subjects. High-frequency SNHL was observed in 247(76.23%), flat HL
in 53(16.35%), and low-frequency HL in 4(1.23%) cases. Clinically, almost 23% (audiologically
40%) of the explored elders presented significant HL needing rehabilitation; however, only one
in 19 used hearing aids. The SNHL was more frequent in men than women (53.2% vs. 46.8%;
P=0.023). Diabetes mellitus did not significantly correlate with SNHL.
Conclusion: This study indicated a high frequency of hearing impairment with minimal ENT
consultation and hearing aids among the elderly population in the study area.
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This is the first methodological field study on a representative “normal” elderly population of northern Iran that in this research we found a noticeable fraction of our population has Hearing impairment, both clinically and audiologically, and just a very few fraction of these cases uses hearing aids.
Type of Study:
Research |
Subject:
Special Received: 2022/01/17 | Accepted: 2022/01/20 | Published: 2022/01/20