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A simple screening test for hearing impairment in elderly patients
G J Macphee1, J A Crowther, C H McAlpine
1Department of Otolaryngology, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow.
Age and Ageing
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Simple bedside voice testing reliably detects hearing impairment in elderly patients. A whispered voice test at 2 feet showed high accuracy for identifying those who would benefit from hearing aids.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Audiology
Background:
- Hearing impairment is common in elderly patients.
- Accurate detection of hearing loss is crucial for geriatric care.
- Bedside tests offer a practical screening solution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of simple bedside free-field voice testing.
- To assess its effectiveness in detecting hearing impairment in geriatric patients.
- To compare voice testing with pure tone audiometry.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-two geriatric admissions underwent bedside voice testing by independent geriatricians and otolaryngologists.
- Four graduated loudness levels were used.
- Pure tone audiometry was performed subsequently under blind conditions.
Main Results:
- Voice testing showed 88% concordance between observers.
- The whispered voice test at 2 feet achieved 100% sensitivity and 84% specificity.
- This test had a 92% predictive value for hearing aid candidacy.
Conclusions:
- Free-field voice testing is a simple and reliable method for hearing impairment detection in the elderly.
- The whispered voice test at 2 feet is a highly effective screening tool.
- This bedside approach can identify geriatric patients likely to benefit from hearing aids.