Liston R, Solomon S, Banerjee A K
Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Bolton General Hospital.
Br J Gen Pract. 1995 Jul;45(396):369-70.
Deterioration of hearing with advancing age is well documented. However, the proportion of elderly people with hearing problems who wear hearing aids is low.
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of hearing disability in a group of elderly patients in hospital and to determine their attitudes to hearing difficulties and the wearing of hearing aids.
A random sample of patients who were convalescing were interviewed. A detailed questionnaire was administered to patients regarding their hearing difficulties.
A total of 79 patients were recruited. Twenty two patients were excluded because of low mental test scores, hence 57 patients (72%) were eligible for inclusion into the study. Thirty eight patients were women (mean age 81 years) and 19 were men (mean age 79 years). Thirty patients (53%) reported difficulties with their hearing, of whom 12 had hearing aids. Seventeen patients had consulted their general practitioner about their difficulties, 15 of whom had been referred for audiological examination. Thirteen patients chose not to consult about their hearing problems, to 'suffer in silence'. Of the 12 patients with hearing aids three reported discomfort or pain and five reported problems such as an ill-fitting hearing aid and excessive amplification. Six patients said they wore their hearing aid for less than four hours a day.
Almost all patients consulting their general practitioner with hearing problems were referred for audiological examination but subsequent follow up, especially of problems with hearing aids, was poor. Better health education and case finding is indicated and patients with hearing aids must be questioned specifically about problems when they consult health professionals. Proper assessment, screening and follow up has implications for resources and training, especially of practice nurses.
听力随年龄增长而下降已有充分记录。然而，有听力问题的老年人佩戴助听器的比例较低。
本研究旨在评估一组老年住院患者听力残疾的患病率，并确定他们对听力困难及佩戴助听器的态度。
对一组正在康复的患者进行随机抽样访谈。针对患者的听力困难情况发放了一份详细问卷。
共招募了79名患者。22名患者因心理测试分数低被排除，因此57名患者（72%）符合纳入研究的条件。38名患者为女性（平均年龄81岁），19名患者为男性（平均年龄79岁）。30名患者（53%）报告有听力困难，其中12名佩戴助听器。17名患者就其听力困难咨询过全科医生，其中15名被转介进行听力检查。13名患者选择不咨询其听力问题，而是“默默忍受”。在12名佩戴助听器的患者中，3名报告有不适或疼痛，5名报告有诸如助听器佩戴不合适和放大过度等问题。6名患者表示他们每天佩戴助听器的时间不到4小时。
几乎所有因听力问题咨询全科医生的患者都被转介进行听力检查，但后续随访，尤其是对助听器问题的随访较差。需要更好的健康教育和病例发现，患者咨询健康专业人员时必须专门询问有关助听器的问题。适当的评估、筛查和随访对资源和培训有影响，尤其是对执业护士的培训。
