Yesterday's Tradition, Tomorrow's Future -- Studying Subjective Hearing
Loss in Older Adults Measured by Speech, Spatial, and Quality of Hearing
Scale within the Framework of the ICF Core Set for Hearing Loss
Abstract
Objective: The utilization of the International Classification of
Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Brief Core Set for Hearing Loss
(BCS-HL) seems to be a promising tool to assess the factors underlying
SHL. This study aimed to assess categories underlying SHL in older
adults using the ICF-BCS-HL tool. Design: A cross-sectional study.
One-hundred and thirty-one independent-living older adults (Mage=72.32,
SD=6.83), who completed the speech, spatial, and quality of hearing
(SSQ) scale and a set of clinically accepted outcome measurements linked
with selected categories listed in the ICF BCS-HL. Results: A linear
regression analysis model was fitted with the outcome measurements after
controlling for age, sex, education, multimorbidity, and hearing aid
use. The model showed 5 significant predictors underlying the SSQ-total
score: HL, dizziness handicap, cognitive decline, multimorbidity, and
individuals’ ability to accept the noise level. Predictors varied across
the SSQ-subscales scores, however. While predictors underlying the
SSQ-Quality subscale scores were like the SSQ-total score, individuals’
ability to accept noise level was not one of the predictors underlying
the SSQ-Speech subscale scores. Whereas PTA, dizziness handicap and
multimorbidity were the predictors underlying the SSQ-Spatial subscale
scores. Conclusion: SHL, measured by SSQ, in older adults is a
multi-layer structure in nature and is associated with a range of
adverse health outcomes. A link of SHL with HL, cognitive deficits,
reduced ability to accept background noise level, and multimorbidity,
collectively or individually, were well-established. So far, little
attention has been paid to the impact of dizziness handicap of elderly
patients when evaluating their SHL.