Abstract
Age-related hearing loss is one of the most common chronic sensory impairments in the older population. This chronic condition is associated with bio-psychosocial consequences such as cognitive decline, depression, withdrawal, isolation, and reduced wellbeing. This study aimed to investigate the perception of hearing problems among older women and men (≥55years) with age-related hearing loss. Furthermore, the association between functional hearing loss and perceived hearing problems was examined. Lastly, this study undertook a detailed investigation of subjective experiences in order to better understand the consequences of age-related hearing loss for daily life. With the aid of mixed methods, quantitative data were gathered from 65participants with age-related hearing impairment in Austria using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE). Moreover, qualitative data regarding experiences with hearing problems were collected by performing semi-structured problem-centered interviews and analyzing the results of afurther 14older adults with hearing loss. On average, participants assessed their hearing handicap as mild and perceived consequences on emotional, social, and communication levels. Moreover, feelings of insecurity were evident. In addition, the findings indicate arelationship but also adiscrepancy between hearing loss and hearing handicap, i. e., not all participants perceived ahearing handicap. Patient-centered care encompassing (1)objective and self-report measures for assessing hearing problems, (2)involvement of family members and significant others, (3) counseling and exchange of information, and (4)ashared decision-making approach could enhance quality of life and quality of care.
Highlights
Age-related hearing loss is one of the most common chronic sensory impairments in the older population
With the aid of mixed methods, quantitative data were gathered from 65 participants with agerelated hearing impairment in Austria using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE)
Qualitative data regarding experiences with hearing problems were collected by performing semi-structured problem-centered interviews and analyzing the results of a further 14 older adults with hearing loss
Summary
Das Gehör ermöglicht die Wahrnehmung von Tönen und den Informationsaustausch zwischen Menschen. In der Literaturübersicht von Roth et al [21] wird die Prävalenz der Hörminderung in Europa auf 30 % bei Männern bzw. Weinstein [23] charakterisieren das Hörhandicap als ein komplexes Phänomen, dessen Wahrnehmung beeinflusst wird durch Faktoren wie Persönlichkeit, Alter, physische Gesundheit, psychosoziale Einstellung, soziale Rolle der Betroffenen und das Verhalten nahestehender Personen [24]. Die aus quantitativen und qualitativen Zugangsformen gewonnenen Erkenntnisse können entweder konvergieren, sich widersprechen oder komplementär zueinander verhalten, wodurch das erforschte Phänomen mehrdimensionaler erfasst werden kann. Ziel dieser Studie war es, (1) die Selbsteinschätzung der Hörhandicaps von altersschwerhörigen Menschen quantitativ zu erfassen sowie die Assoziation zwischen Hörhandicap und Hörverlust zu bestimmen und (2) ein tieferes Verständnis von Erfahrungen mit dem Hörverlust und dessen Auswirkungen auf den Lebensalltag mittels qualitativer Interviews zu gewinnen
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