The accuracy of self-reported hearing loss in women aged 60-85 years.
The accuracy of self-report in identifying individuals with hearing impairment was evaluated in 1988 in 267 women from rural Iowa. Using pure-tone threshold audiometry as the standard, self-reported hearing loss was a sensitive and specific indicator of measured losses of 40 decibel hearing level for pure-tone averages of either 1,000 and 2,000 Hz or 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 Hz (sensitivities, 90% and 84%; specificities, 71% and 75%, respectively). Predictive values positive were low (28% and 42%) in this population where hearing loss prevalence was 11-18%, but would be increased to acceptable levels in populations with a prevalence of approximately 30%.
Clark
K
K
College of Nursing, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
Sowers
M
M
Wallace
R B
RB
Anderson
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012424:Rural Population; D012650:Self Disclosure