[Evaluation of hearing disorders and social support among the middle aged and elderly in the community. I. Analysis on the relationship between hearing difficulties and social participation, and self-rated health].
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the actual conditions of middle-aged and elderly community residents with hearing disabilities; and to investigate, through self-evaluation, the impact of hearing difficulties on health and social participation so that a key can be found to provide social support for residents with some degree of hearing impairment.


METHODS
A questionnaire survey was conducted in Soyo village in Kumamoto Prefecture. The subjects of the survey were 2,199 residents aged 40 years and older receiving health check-ups in accordance with the Health Service Act for the Aged. The questionnaires consisted of 8 items regarding self-evaluations of health, hearing difficulties, the utilization of hearing aids, tinnitus, and social life.


RESULTS
Data from 2,075 respondents who completed the questionnaire were analyzed. The results were as follows: 1. The number of residents claiming hearing difficulties according to age: 40 s--1 man (0.6%) 50 s--7 men (3.9%) and 7 women (2.8%) 60 s--26 men (8.3%) and 16 women (4.2%) 70 s(+)--42 men (17.5%) and 37 women (11.1%) The percentage of respondents suffering from hearing difficulties increased significantly with age with percentages higher in men than in women among all age groups. 2. Thirty-eight men and 32 women reported customary use of a hearing aid. Hearing aid use was 0.6% among men in their 40 s, 1.1% in men and 1.2% for women in their 50 s, 3.2% in men and 1.6% for women in their 60 s, 10.4% in men and 6.9% in women in their 70 s or older. 3. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between hearing difficulties and social participation (Odds ratio: 1.56; 95% Confidence Interval, 1.02-2.38). The degree of social participation (participation in a variety of activities/communication by telephone) was restricted by hearing difficulties. 4. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between hearing difficulties and self-evaluated health (Odds ratio: 2.47; 95% Confidence Interval, 1.38-4.42. The elderly with hering difficulties tended to show lower self-evaluated health.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests the necessity of creating and implementing social policies that deepen residents' awareness of hearing disabilities as invisible barriers in the home, in the workplace, and in the community; and the necessity of improving the living environment through the utilization of barrier-free designs that will foster better communication.
Miyakita
T
T
Kumamoto University School of Medicine.
Ueda
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires