You Jhen Yang, Chiu Ching-Ju
Institute of Gerontology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Clin Interv Aging. 2025 Aug 22;20:1337-1347. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S522426. eCollection 2025.
Life-space mobility reflects daily and social movement, crucial for active aging and independence in older adults. Good mobility is associated with greater vitality and the ability to live independently. This study examines the relationship between hearing loss and life-space mobility using pure tone average (PTA) hearing levels.
This cross-sectional study recruited participants aged 50-79 from January 2023 to May 2024 through community in southern Taiwan. Participants were recruited via electronic bulletin boards and word-of-mouth. Hearing was assessed using pure tone audiometry, and data on socioeconomic status, life-space mobility, cognition, depression, social frailty, and health status were collected via questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of life-space mobility.
Ninety participants (mean age 64.21 years) with good cognition completed the study. Pure tone audiometry showed 60% had bilateral hearing loss (better ear hearing level >20 dB), and 15.6% had bilateral hearing disability (bilateral hearing level >50 dB). Low life-space mobility was observed in 5.6%, and social frailty in 13.3%. Bilateral hearing disabilities predicted low life-space mobility (OR = 48.34, CI = 2.06-1136.35). Each decibel increase in worse ear hearing level increased the likelihood of low life-space mobility by 6% (OR = 1.06, CI = 1.0-1.1).
Hearing loss is an independent predictor of life-space mobility. Increased worse ear hearing levels are associated with reduced life-space. Routine hearing assessment may support timely identification and intervention to preserve mobility in aging populations.
生活空间移动性反映日常和社交活动，对老年人的积极老龄化和独立性至关重要。良好的移动性与更高的活力和独立生活能力相关。本研究使用纯音平均（PTA）听力水平来考察听力损失与生活空间移动性之间的关系。
这项横断面研究于2023年1月至2024年5月通过台湾南部社区招募了50 - 79岁的参与者。参与者通过电子公告栏和口碑招募。使用纯音听力测定法评估听力，并通过问卷调查收集社会经济状况、生活空间移动性、认知、抑郁、社会脆弱性和健康状况的数据。采用逻辑回归来确定生活空间移动性的预测因素。
90名认知良好（平均年龄64.21岁）的参与者完成了研究。纯音听力测定显示，60%的人有双侧听力损失（较好耳听力水平>20 dB），15.6%的人有双侧听力残疾（双侧听力水平>50 dB）。观察到5.6%的人生活空间移动性较低，13.3%的人存在社会脆弱性。双侧听力残疾预示着生活空间移动性较低（OR = 48.34，CI = 2.06 - 1136.35）。较差耳听力水平每增加1分贝，生活空间移动性较低的可能性增加6%（OR = 1.06，CI = 1.0 - 1.1）。
听力损失是生活空间移动性的独立预测因素。较差耳听力水平的增加与生活空间的减少相关。常规听力评估可能有助于及时识别和干预，以保持老年人群的移动性。
