Ear and hearing status in a multilevel retirement facility

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Audiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Hearing impairment and earwax buildup are common in older adults.
• Cognitive function can be impacted by sensory deficits.
• Retirement facilities house diverse resident populations with varying care needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of earwax occlusion and hearing status in retirement facility residents.
• To evaluate hearing impairment, hearing handicap, and cognitive function.
• To identify differences in these measures across living arrangements within the facility.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 49 retirement facility residents was assessed over a 1- to 4-month period.
• Measures included earwax occlusion, hearing impairment, hearing handicap (self and staff-reported), and cognitive function.
• Data from two time points were averaged due to minimal change in most measures.

Main Results:

• Nearly half (49%) of residents had excessive or impacted earwax at the initial measurement.
• A high incidence was found for moderate or greater hearing impairment (79.3%) and cognitive deficit (39.0%).
• Residents in assisted living and nursing care showed higher rates of earwax issues, hearing impairment, and cognitive deficits compared to independent living residents.

Conclusions:

• Excessive earwax and hearing impairment are highly prevalent in this retirement facility population.
• Assisted living and nursing care residents face greater challenges with ear health, hearing, and cognition.
• Screening for hearing impairment and implementing effective communication strategies are recommended.