Early intervention and rehabilitation: factors influencing outcome

Detection of hearing disability in a pre-retirement working class population of people aged 50-65 years has been achieved using simple questionnaires. Patients who reported disability were offered rehabilitation, including hearing aids, and the hearing aids use increased from 7% to 23% of the population. Those who accepted or refused hearing aids differed only minimally in mean worse or better ear hearing levels, but markedly in terms of hearing handicap. Similarly, those who indicated that they would like help with their hearing had increased disability and handicap levels but hearing levels no different from those who did not want help. Tinnitus in addition to hearing disability increased the individual's acceptance of a hearing aid. Sex, social class and exposure to occupational noise had no significant effect.