Voeks S K, Gallagher C M, Langer E H, Drinka P J
Wisconsin Veterans Home, King 54946.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 1990 Feb;38(2):141-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1990.tb03475.x.
One hundred ninety-eight nursing home admissions underwent audiometric assessment and answered questions regarding hearing difficulty in common listening situations. Twenty-four percent demonstrated normal thresholds (0-25 dB) in the speech frequencies with only mild losses at 4000 Hz. Fifty-four percent had normal thresholds through the speech frequencies with moderate to profound losses at higher frequencies, or mild losses (26-40 dB) in the speech frequencies. Such persons would be at risk in daily listening situations. Twenty-two percent had moderate or greater losses (greater than 40 dB) through the entire frequency range. Sixteen percent of this significantly impaired group were not identified as having a hearing loss by either the admitting RN or physician. Sixty percent of residents reported trouble in a group if they could not see the speaker's face, when watching television, and/or when using the telephone. The data indicate that a systematic hearing screening program is the most reliable means of identifying hearing loss and functional hearing handicap on an individual basis. The high prevalence of hearing problems suggests that this handicap also needs to be addressed from the perspective of institutional policy. Staff training and environmental modification should be undertaken to give hearing support to the entire nursing home population.
198名入住养老院的老人接受了听力测试，并回答了有关在常见聆听环境中听力困难的问题。24%的人在言语频率上表现出正常阈值（0-25分贝），仅在4000赫兹处有轻度听力损失。54%的人在言语频率上阈值正常，但在较高频率处有中度至重度听力损失，或在言语频率上有轻度听力损失（26-40分贝）。这类人在日常聆听环境中会面临风险。22%的人在整个频率范围内有中度或更严重的听力损失（大于40分贝）。在这一严重受损群体中，16%的人在入院时未被注册护士或医生认定为有听力损失。60%的居民表示，如果在看电视和/或使用电话时看不到说话者的脸，在群体中会有听力困难。数据表明，系统的听力筛查计划是在个体层面识别听力损失和功能性听力障碍最可靠的方法。听力问题的高患病率表明，还需要从机构政策的角度解决这一障碍。应进行员工培训和环境改造，为整个养老院人群提供听力支持。
