Sciberras Andrew, Greenham Paula, D'Haese Patrick
Loud & Clear Professional Audiology Services, Gzira, Malta.
Greenham Research Consulting Ltd., Swindon, UK.
Inquiry. 2025 Jan-Dec;62:469580251372815. doi: 10.1177/00469580251372815. Epub 2025 Sep 9.
Age related hearing loss is in the top ten contributors to the global burden of disease and one of the largest modifiable risk factors for age-related dementia. However, awareness of the consequences of untreated hearing loss is poor and many adults do not seek hearing assessment. Despite World Health Organisation recommendations, no EU country currently has a national adult screening programme.
The aim of this trial was to raise awareness of hearing loss by providing screening audiograms in a range of community settings. Results were explained to every participant and professional advice given. Seven hundred participants came forward for testing with a mean age of 60 to 70 years old.
Data was recorded from 597 individuals (51% female and 49% male), 44% had a disabling hearing loss (≥35 dB HL in the better ear) and 15% of individuals had a moderately severe loss or greater. No participants currently wore or had been fitted with a hearing aid. Both the proportion of those with hearing loss and the severity of the hearing loss increased with age. Tinnitus was present in 38% of the sample and wax occlusion in 24%.
Many individuals came forward who had not accessed the audiological services currently provided. This indicates a need for more awareness of hearing care in the population and an unmet need for audiological services.
年龄相关性听力损失是全球疾病负担的十大促成因素之一，也是与年龄相关痴呆症最大的可改变风险因素之一。然而，人们对未经治疗的听力损失后果的认识不足，许多成年人未寻求听力评估。尽管世界卫生组织提出了建议，但目前没有一个欧盟国家实施全国性的成人筛查计划。
本试验的目的是通过在一系列社区环境中提供听力筛查图来提高对听力损失的认识。向每位参与者解释结果并提供专业建议。700名参与者前来接受测试，平均年龄为60至70岁。
记录了597人的数据（51%为女性，49%为男性），44%的人有致残性听力损失（较好耳≥35dB HL），15%的人有中度重度或更严重的听力损失。目前没有参与者佩戴或已佩戴助听器。听力损失者的比例和听力损失的严重程度均随年龄增长而增加。38%的样本有耳鸣，24%有耵聍堵塞。
许多此前未使用过现有听力服务的人前来参与。这表明有必要提高公众对听力保健的认识，并且听力服务存在未满足的需求。
