title: Perception of hearing impairment and the willingness to use hearing aids in an elderly population in southern Taiwan: A community-based study.
abstract: To estimate the prevalence and severity of hearing impairment (HI), the self-perception of HI, and the willingness to use a hearing aid (HA) in the elderly population in southern Taiwan.
  
  
  
  This community-based study was performed in a metropolitan hospital. A questionnaire about the perception of HI and the willingness to use a HA was used. The severity of HI in speech-frequency pure-tone average (PTA) was evaluated. The associations between sex, age, severity of HI, self-perception of HI, and the willingness to use a HA were analysed.
  
  
  
  A total of 599 volunteers were recruited from the health management center; 324 (54.1%) males and 275 (45.9%) females, who were 65 years of age or older.
  
  
  
  The prevalence of HI >25 dBHL in the elderly was 78%. The predicted levels for elderly persons to perceive HI and hearing difficulties were 34.38 dBHL and 54.38 dBHL, respectively. Males and younger participants were more willing to use HA. The primary reasons for refusing HA use were discomfort (25.1%) and a self-perception that the HA was unnecessary (19.7%).
  
  
  
  The prevalence of HI was high among the elderly population in southern Taiwan. Age and sex were the determinants of HA use.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .|b Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .|c Health Management Center , Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .
authors.forename: Ning-Chia
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: d Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .|e Health Management Center , Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .
authors.forename: Chia-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: c Health Management Center , Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .
authors.forename: Wen-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .|b Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .
authors.forename: Chen-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.affiliation: d Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .|e Health Management Center , Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .
authors.forename: Meng-Hsuen
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan .|f Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuen-Yao
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Prevalence; Taiwan; elderly; hearing aid; hearing impairment; willingness