Examination of factors affecting the health-related quality of life of elderly people with hearing loss

• Published in: AUDIOLOGY JAPAN Vol. 65; no. 4; pp. 253 - 261
• Main Authors: Nakajima, Satomi, Kurioka, Takaomi, Furuki, Shogo, Hara, Yuki, Inoue, Rie, Suzuki, Keiko, Umehara, Sachie, Ono, Yuichi, Sano, Hajime
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Audiological Society 30.08.2022
• ISSN: 0303-8106; 1883-7301
• DOI: 10.4295/audiology.65.253

We investigated the QOL of elderly hearing-impaired people using three questionnaires used to evaluate the comprehensive health-related quality of life, subjective well-being, and social activity. The subjects were 149 people aged 65 years or older with moderate hearing loss who visited the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kitasato University Hospital, from October 2019 to December 2020. We surveyed the subjects using a questionnaire consisting of “basic questions,” “Subjective Well-Being Inventory (SUBI),” “lively social activity checklist (social activity),” and “SF-36ver2.” Comparison of the mean score on the SF-36 with the national standard value revealed a significant decrease only for the Mental Component Summary (MCS) in subjects in their 70s (p<0.025). A positive correlation was found between the scores on the MCS and SUBI, and a positive correlation was also found between social activity and the scores on the MCS and SUBI. Multiple regression analysis showed improvement of the score on the MCS as the average pure-tone hearing level deteriorated (p<0.05). Use of a hearing aid also tended to affect the decline in the score on the MCS (p=0.072).