Biopsychosocial Classification of Hearing Health Seeking in Adults Aged Over 50 Years in England.
Chelsea S Sawyer, Christopher J Armitage, Kevin J Munro and 2 others
PMID 31985532WHAT IT FOUND
Among older adults with measured hearing loss, 40% did not report any hearing difficulties.
Severity of hearing loss predicted help-seeking across all stages. Men and those with lower cognitive function were less likely to recognize their own hearing problems.
Key findings
0140.0% of adults identified with probable hearing impairment did not report hearing difficulties, making this the largest group in the pathway.
02Hearing level was the only factor associated with all five modeled categories, with those with poorer hearing more likely to be further along the help-seeking pathway.
03Individuals who did not report hearing difficulties were more likely to be women, younger, and have lower cognitive function compared to those who sought help.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine cause and effect or track progression over time. Hearing was measured using the HearCheck Screener, which only tests frequencies at 1 and 3 kHz, so it may not capture all types of hearing loss or determine audiometric eligibility for hearing aids. The sample had very few people from ethnic minority backgrounds, so findings may not generalize to all populations. No data were collected on patients' attitudes toward hearing aids, which are known to influence use. Multiple statistical comparisons were not adjusted for, which increases the risk of false positive findings.
Declared interests
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that patients who do not report hearing difficulties have normal hearing. 40% of those with measured hearing loss did not report any problems, so relying on patient self-report alone will miss a substantial number of people who need support.