Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan; Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hiroshima City Hospital, Japan.
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan.
Auris Nasus Larynx. 2024 Aug;51(4):822-827. doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2024.07.001. Epub 2024 Jul 14.
The hearing aid adoption rate among older adults in Japan is lower than that in other developed countries. Herein, a survey was conducted to identify this bottleneck and develop countermeasures. This study aimed to examine whether raising awareness of the relationship between hearing loss and dementia is significant for hearing tests and adopting hearing aids.
A questionnaire was administered to participants aged 65 or older who visited a general hospital to determine the background factors (1) for a recent history of hearing tests, (2) for the desire to visit an otolaryngologist and have a hearing test, (3) for recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship, and (4) for adopting hearing aids.
A total of 517 patients (mean age, 78.06; SD 6.97), representing 2.4% of the region's older-adult population, participated in the survey. A history of hearing tests within five years was significantly associated with recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship (adjusted OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.49-3.72). The desire to visit an otolaryngologist or have a hearing test was significantly associated with recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship (adjusted OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.02-2.85). Moreover, 39.3% were aware of the hearing loss-dementia relationship. The significant associated factors were being female (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.64-3.81) and having interpersonal hobbies (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.11-2.49). The significant background factors for adopting hearing aids were older age (OR 6.95, 95% CI 1.90-25.40), self-reported severe hearing impairment (OR 5.49, 95% CI 2.55-11.80), and living alone (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.18-5.89). Recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship was not a significant factor.
Raising awareness of the hearing loss-dementia relationship was not associated with adopting hearing aids for self-reported hearing impairments. However, it may be associated with otolaryngology visits and hearing tests. Thus, steps like hearing screening for older adults are also essential.
日本老年人助听器的采用率低于其他发达国家。因此，进行了一项调查，以确定这一瓶颈并制定对策。本研究旨在探讨提高对听力损失与痴呆症之间关系的认识是否对听力测试和助听器的采用有意义。
对年龄在 65 岁或以上、曾到综合医院就诊的患者进行问卷调查，以确定以下背景因素：(1) 最近进行听力测试的历史；(2) 希望看耳鼻喉科医生并进行听力测试；(3) 认识到听力损失与痴呆症的关系；(4) 采用助听器。
共有 517 名患者（平均年龄 78.06 岁，标准差 6.97 岁）参加了调查，占该地区老年人口的 2.4%。在五年内进行过听力测试与认识到听力损失与痴呆症的关系显著相关（调整后的 OR 2.36，95%CI 1.49-3.72）。希望看耳鼻喉科医生或进行听力测试与认识到听力损失与痴呆症的关系显著相关（调整后的 OR 1.70，95%CI 1.02-2.85）。此外，39.3%的人知晓听力损失与痴呆症的关系。显著相关的因素是女性（OR 2.50，95%CI 1.64-3.81）和有社交爱好（OR 1.66，95%CI 1.11-2.49）。采用助听器的显著背景因素是年龄较大（OR 6.95，95%CI 1.90-25.40）、自我报告的严重听力障碍（OR 5.49，95%CI 2.55-11.80）和独居（OR 2.63，95%CI 1.18-5.89）。认识到听力损失与痴呆症的关系不是一个显著因素。
提高对听力损失与痴呆症关系的认识与自我报告的听力障碍采用助听器无关。然而，它可能与耳鼻喉科就诊和听力测试有关。因此，对老年人进行听力筛查等措施也很重要。
