Identifying hearing impairment and the associated impact on the quality of life among the elderly residing in retirement homes in Pretoria, South Africa.
Samantha M Govender, Marguerite De Jongh
PMID 33764149WHAT IT FOUND
Most elderly residents in South African retirement homes failed hearing screens, with 77% referred for further evaluation.
Self-reported hearing difficulties were significantly associated with reduced quality of life. Many participants had never heard of an audiologist, and hearing aid users reported challenges with device maintenance.
Key findings
0177% of screened participants failed the hearing screening test battery, with the majority failing both pure-tone audiometry and otoacoustic emissions screening.
02Self-reported hearing difficulties were significantly associated with reduced quality of life.
0363% of screened participants stated they had not heard of an audiologist before the study.
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 used convenience sampling and only achieved 30% of the calculated minimum sample size, limiting generalisability. Participants with cognitive disorders were excluded, so findings do not apply to those with dementia or significant cognitive impairment. The quality of life measure was self-reported and adapted, not a standardised validated tool for this specific population. The cross-sectional design cannot determine causality between hearing loss and reduced quality of life. Most participants were from private retirement homes, potentially skewing socioeconomic representation.
Declared interests
The text does not explicitly state funding sources or conflicts of interest, though it notes ethical approval from the School of Health Care Sciences.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the significant association between hearing loss and reduced quality of life as proof that hearing aid provision alone will resolve psychosocial distress. The study highlights that many users struggle with device maintenance and dexterity, and that awareness of audiological services is extremely low, suggesting that access and support are critical missing links.