Help-seeking behaviour of hearing-impaired persons aged > or = 55 years; effect of complaints, significant others and hearing aid image.
OBJECTIVE
To determine factors influencing help-seeking behaviour in hearing-impaired persons aged > or = 55 years


METHODS
The study comprised 1,419 persons (480 females, 939 males) aged > or = 55 years who participated voluntarily in a driving test. Pure-tone audiometry was performed in all subjects. Participants without a hearing aid with an average hearing loss of > or = 30 dB in the better ear for the frequencies 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz were asked how they perceived their hearing by means of a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire provided insight into why some hearing-impaired people seek help from a general practitioner (GP) and others do not. Four factors were examined.


RESULTS
A total of 483/1.419 (34%) participants tested had a hearing loss exceeding 30 dB. Fewer than half of these had visited their GP with complaints of hearing impairment. Of those who had not sought help from a GP, 57% nevertheless judged their hearing as poor. Social pressure exerted by significant others was less in the non-consulters group. Hearing aid image did not differ significantly between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The help-seeking behaviour of hearing-impaired elderly people is related to the degree of hearing disability and the social pressure exerted by significant others as well as the willingness to try hearing aids.
Duijvestijn
J A
JA
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. j.duijvestijn@ziekenhuis-mst.nl
Anteunis
L J C
LJ
Hoek
C J
CJ
Van Den Brink
R H S
RH
Chenault
M N
MN
Manni
J J
JJ
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires