[Preliminary study on hearing screening for the elderly population undergoing physical examinations]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Audiology
• Public Health

Context:

• Hearing loss is a prevalent condition in the elderly population, impacting quality of life and communication.
• Routine physical examinations offer an opportunity to screen for age-related health issues, including hearing impairment.
• Pure tone audiometry (PTA) is a standard audiological test, but its application as a screening tool in large elderly populations requires validation.

Purpose:

• To determine the prevalence of hearing loss in individuals aged 60 and above undergoing physical examinations.
• To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of pure tone audiometry (PTA) for hearing screening in this demographic.
• To establish appropriate screening criteria for hearing loss in the elderly within a specific national context.

Summary:

• A cross-sectional study screened 1,066 individuals (aged 60-90) using PTA and the Chinese Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening (CHHIE-S).
• Results indicated an 18.39% prevalence of moderate to severe hearing loss. A 4-frequency pure-tone average (4fPTA) greater than 35 dB HL in the better ear demonstrated the highest consistency with the CHHIE-S scale (Kappa=0.554).
• This criterion yielded a positive screening rate of 15.57% and suggests PTA is a viable screening method for elderly individuals during physical exams.

Impact:

• Highlights the significant prevalence of hearing loss in older adults, underscoring the need for early detection.
• Validates PTA as a practical and effective tool for hearing screening in elderly populations during routine health check-ups.
• Proposes a specific screening criterion (4fPTA > 35 dB HL in both ears) for widespread implementation, potentially improving audiological care for seniors.