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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
09:44
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Hearing impairment and social isolation in the elderly
Journal of Speech and Hearing Research
|December 1, 1982
Summary
Hearing impairment in older adults is linked to social isolation. Audiological measures strongly correlate with subjective isolation, indicating a significant relationship between hearing loss and feeling alone.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Audiology
- Social Science
Background:
- Social isolation is a growing concern in aging populations.
- Hearing impairment is common in older adults and can impact social engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hearing impairment and social isolation in community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older.
- To determine if audiological measures correlate with subjective and objective social isolation.
Main Methods:
- Participants (over 65) with insidious hearing loss onset after age 53 underwent audiological evaluations.
- Evaluations included pure-tone testing, speech discrimination, and self-assessed hearing handicap.
- Quantitative scales measured subjective and objective social isolation.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant correlations were found between audiological variables and both social isolation measures.
- Audiological measures showed stronger correlations with subjective social isolation than objective measures.
- The Hearing Measurement Scale (HMS) score explained the most variance in isolation scores.
Conclusions:
- Hearing impairment is significantly associated with social isolation in older adults.
- Subjective experiences of hearing loss appear more closely linked to social isolation than objective measures.
- Audiological assessments, particularly the HMS, can provide insights into social isolation levels.
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