Untreated Hearing Loss's Impact on Older Persons: A Study by National Council on Aging - P, Study notes of Speech-Language Pathology

Download Untreated Hearing Loss's Impact on Older Persons: A Study by National Council on Aging - P and more Study notes Speech-Language Pathology in PDF only on Docsity! The National Council on the Aging May 1999 Study conducted by the Seniors Research Group, An alliance between The National Council on the Aging and Market Strategies Inc. The National Council on the Aging 409 Third Street, SW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20024 202-479-1200 www.ncoa.org The Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss in Older Persons The National Council on the Aging Table of Contents Background ……………………………………………………………….1 Scope of Hearing Problem among Older Americans The NCOA Study Results……………………………………………………………………..2 Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss Sadness, Depression Worry, Anxiety Less Social Activity Paranoia Emotional Turmoil and Insecurity Benefits of Treatment Barriers to Treatment Implications………………………………………………………………8 Understanding the Effects on Individuals Increasing Family Awareness Raising Awareness among Healthcare Professionals Method…………………………………………………………………….9 Sample Other Studies © Copyright 1999 The National Council on the Aging 409 Third Street, NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20024 Sadness, Depression Respondents who do not use hearing aids were more likely than hearing aid users to report that there had been a period of two weeks or more in the past year during which they felt “sad, blue, or depressed.” This difference remains when controlling for other factors such as the respondents’ age and income. The percentage of those reporting depression increases with the severity of their hearing loss (see Figure 1). Figure 1 Felt Sad or Depressed for Two or More Weeks during Past Year Level of Use Don’t Use Hearing Loss Hearing Aid Hearing Aid Milder 14% 23% More severe 22 30 Question 22 Worry, Anxiety Examining responses to several questions about worry and anxiety, the study found that respondents who do not use hearing aids were more likely to report these feelings than users. For example, nonusers were more likely to say there had been a period lasting a month or longer during the past year when they felt worried, tense, or anxious (see Figure 2). Figure 2 Felt Worried, Tense, Anxious for Month or More During the Past Year Level of Use Don’t Use Hearing Loss Hearing Aid Hearing Aid Milder 7% 12% More severe 12 17 Question 26 Less Social Activity Social isolation is a serious problem for many older people who gradually lose vital contacts with their family, friends, and neighbors. The study shows that hearing-impaired seniors who don’t use hearing aids participated significantly less in organized social activity, compared to users. Among those with milder hearing loss, non-users were more than 20 percent less likely than users to regularly participate in social activities. Among respondents with more severe hearing loss, nonusers were more than 24 percent less likely to participate in social activities (see Figure 3). Nonusers were also less likely to participate in senior center activities (see Figure 4). 3 Figure 3 Participate Regularly in Social Activities Level of Use Don’t Use Hearing Loss Hearing Aid Hearing Aid Milder 47% 37% More severe 42 32 Question 1-7 Figure 4 Participate in Senior Center Activities Level of Use Don’t Use Hearing Loss Hearing Aid Hearing Aid Mild 24% 15% More severe 21 16 Question 1-8 Paranoia Another measure of an emotional distress is the perception that “other people get angry at me for no reason,” which psychologists often identify as an indicator of paranoia. People with untreated hearing problems may well sense anger directed at them “for no reason” as they misinterpret what they hear or as have to ask people to repeat what they are saying. As Figure 5 shows, those who do not use hearing aids were nearly twice likely to agree that “people get angry with me for no reason.” Among those with more severe hearing loss, the difference between users and non- users is even greater (14 percent of users agreed, vs. 36 of non-users agreed with the statement). Figure 5 People Get Angry with Me Usually for No Reason (percent who agreed) Level of Use Don’t Use Hearing Loss Hearing Aid Hearing Aid Mild 13% 24% More severe 14 36 Question 12-5 4 Emotional Turmoil Seniors with untreated hearing loss also reported a greater tendency to describe themselves as feeling insecure, irritable, fearful, or tense—especially those with more severe levels of hearing loss. Among more seniors with more severe hearing loss, 11 percent of hearing aid users said the word “insecure” describes them, compared to 17 percent of nonusers (Figure 6). Figure 6 The Term “Insecure” Describes Me (percentage who agreed) Level of Use Don’t Use Hearing Loss Hearing Aid Hearing Aid Mild 8% 10% More severe 11 17 Question 16-9 5 Implications Understand the Effects on Individuals Untreated hearing loss among older persons is a serious and prevalent problem. The study found that from the mildest to the most severe hearing loss level, hearing-impaired older persons who do not wear hearing aids are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, paranoia and emotional turmoil, compared to people who wear hearing aids. On the other hand, hearing-impaired older persons who do use hearing aids are more likely than non-users to be involved socially in their neighborhoods, in organized social activities, and at senior centers. Most hearing aid users report significant benefits from the aids—in family relationships, mental health, and other areas that affect the quality of their lives. In all categories, family members observe even greater benefits from the use of hearing aids than do the users themselves. Denial is the most important barrier to hearing aid use. Most hearing-impaired older persons who don’t use hearing aids think they don’t need them or can get by without them. Cost considerations and vanity are also significant barriers for many older persons. Increase Family Awareness Hearing loss affects not only the hearing-impaired person, but often their families as well. Families should be aware of and alert to the potential consequences of untreated hearing loss as well as the benefits of using hearing aids. Family members who suspect that a relative has a hearing loss should actively encourage the person to seek appropriate screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Raise Awareness among Healthcare Professionals Because of the potential negative consequences of untreated hearing loss on a person’s quality of life and family relationships, hearing loss should be a routine topic of discussion for older persons and their doctors. Physicians and other allied health professionals should encourage older people who are suspected of having a hearing loss to seek appropriate screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Health professionals should also be aware that many older adults with significant hearing impairments tend to deny the extent of their hearing loss and to believe that they do not need treatment. A simple five-minute questionnaire administered to patients could help identify patients in need of referral to a hearing specialist. 8 Method In 1998, The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) commissioned the Seniors Research Group to conduct a survey of Americans age 50 and older to determine the effects of hearing loss in their lives. A total of 2,304 hearing-impaired people age 50 and older responded to the mail questionnaire—a response rate of more than 75 percent of the 3,000 persons contacted. The survey is unique in several respects. It is the largest survey of its kind; it is national in scope and profile; and it systematically includes middle-aged and older men and women who have both treated and untreated hearing loss. Also, this study is the first large hearing-loss study to directly measure attitudes and perceptions of other family members. Each hearing-impaired respondent was asked to have a family member respond to a set of questions that parallels the questionnaire filled out by the hearing-impaired person. A total of 2,090 family respondents returned the questionnaire. The sample of 3,000 hearing-impaired respondents age 50 and older was drawn from the Knowles Electronics 1997-1998 MarkeTrak IV Survey database, conducted using the National Family Opinion Consumer Household Sample. Other Studies There have been several small-scale studies that documented negative social and emotional effects that result from lack of treatment for hearing loss. Lack of treatment has been linked to a reduction in effective social functioning (Weinstein & Ventry, 1982), diminished psychological well-being (Thomas & Herbst, 1980; Dye & Peak, 1983), lower self-esteem (Harless & McConnell, 1982), and a reduction in general quality of life (Mulrow, Aguilar, Endicott, et al., 1990; Carabellese, Appollonio, Rozzini, et al., 1993; Bridges & Bender, 1998). However, the sample sizes in these studies were relatively small, ranging in size from 20 to 251. Some studies looked at matched groups of participants, one group with hearing aids and one without to measure effects. Others were longitudinal studies based on an experimental intervention design with treated and untreated groups followed over time. 9