Abstract

FLORES, Nayyara Glícia Calheiros  and  IORIO, Maria Cecília Martinelli. Activity limitations in the elderly: a study of new hearing aid users using the APHAB questionnaire. Rev. soc. bras. fonoaudiol. [online]. 2012, vol.17, n.1, pp. 47-53. ISSN 1516-8034.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-80342012000100010.

PURPOSE: To evaluate hearing limitations among elderly individuals with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss according to the variables educational level and degree of hearing loss, using the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit self-assessment questionnaire. METHODS: The questionnaire was applied to 30 elderly subjects before and after three months of use of amplification. The sample was composed of 60% females and 40% males, with mean age of 71.6 years. Educational level was divided into three categories: illiterate, elementary school, and high school education. Data were analyzed statistically. Scores were compared by subscale and an overall assessment was conducted by subtracting these scores. Moreover, it was calculated the association between benefit and educational level and degree of hearing loss. RESULTS: The comparative study between scores obtained in the questionnaire with and without hearing aid revealed difference in the subscales Ease of Communication, Reverberation and Background Noise, with values p<0.001. In the Aversion to Sounds subscale, it was observed a decline with amplification. Performance improved with the hearing aid in the overall evaluation for all three subscales. There was no association between benefits obtained with the hearing aid, educational level, and degree of hearing loss. CONCLUSION: Benefits were reported in the subscales: Ease of Communication, Reverberation, and Background Noise. No association was found between benefits, educational level and degree of hearing loss. The benefit obtained in the Background Noise subscale is smaller than that observed in Reverberation and Ease of Communication.

Keywords : Hearing loss; Elderly health; Hearing aids; Presbycusis; Questionnaires.