Hearing loss in elderly people in mosul

Abstract AR

Objective.: Hearing loss is a serious problem among elderly people in the world.

Many people, including doctors wrongly consider hearing loss an inevitable part of aging.

Our aim is to study the current status of hearing impairment and loss among elderly in Mosul, Iraq, to report on those who are in need of hearing aids, to compare the findings with studies conducted abroad, and to study the various causes of hearing loss in the elderly in this region.

Methods: A randomly selected sample was composed of 2540 elderly patients visiting the different consultation clinics in two major teaching hospitals in Mosul in the period from July 2001 to January 2003.

These people were screened for hearing impairment and loss.

A survey team included an ear, nose and throat specialist, a nurse, a social worker, and an audiologist.

A questionnaire was completed; clinical examination and audiological assessment was performed.

The data was analyzed by the Z test of proportions.

Results: The over all prevalence of hearing loss in the elderly was (55%); 60% of them had bilateral hearing loss with more than 35 dB in the good ear.

Only 15.5% of the elderly surveyed needed a hearing aid.

Sensorineural hearing loss constituted 59%.

Hearing loss was more common in males and in the age group between 75-79 years.

Conclusion: The prevalence rate of hearing impairment and loss is high in our country compared with developed countries, but cases treatable without hearing aid are more common in our country in comparison with those in developed countries.

There is a definite need for early diagnosis and work to improve the primary health care for the elderly to protect them from depression due to this treatable problem.

There is a need for more hearing and speech centers.