The nature and effects of hearing impairment in an elderly population : a study undertaken in a university general practice

Skelton, David (1983) The nature and effects of hearing impairment in an elderly population : a study undertaken in a university general practice. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Abstract

This study was undertaken in order to investigate the nature and effects of the hearing losses encountered within a defined elderly population in a general practice setting. Some of the more important audiological, physical, social and emotional characteristics of an elderly hearing impaired group of subjects were compaired with a control group of individuals who had satisfactorily fulfilled the criteria of a screening test of hearing. A survey of the assistance provided to the older hearing handicapped persons by local and national agencies was also included. The majority of older persons enter the health care delivery system by way of their family doctors and hearing impairment is a particularly common and disabling clinical problem among this population group. Unfortunately the level of understanding of the causes of such handicap, its prevalence, incidence and its social and psychological implications for the aged individual, the professional, and the overall health care delivery system is very limited. The findings of the study imply that a significant degree of hearing impairment is a very common problem in general medical practice, and that existing levels of prevention, investigation, treatment and rehabilitation fall considerably short of the optimum. An indication of the difficulties encountered in the full range of activties of daily living is provided, and the serious restriction imposed upon movement of sufferers outside of their own domicile is clearly shown. The markedly increased likelihood of emotional sequelae developing in hearing impaired older patients is also demonstrated.

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