PP607 - Quality of Life and Social Participation of Seniors with Presbycusis and Their Other Relative

Posters

Location: Halls 4EF

Lead Presenter(s)

Lydia Redjah (she/her/hers)

Student, Research Assistant
Université de Montréal, Centre de recherche de l'Institut de gériatrie de Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.

PDF Slides

Contributor (Not Presenting)(s)

JG

Jean-Pierre Gagné

Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. School of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.

Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.

Contributor(s)

AF

Adrian Fuente

Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Ronald Choquette (he/him/his)

Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant financial relationships with anything to disclose.
Non-Financial Disclosures: I do not have any relevant non-financial relationships with anything to disclose.

Abstract: The aim of the study is to determine whether hearing aids in elderly people with presbycusis have an impact on their quality of life and social participation, as well as on those of their relatives. Quality of life and social participation are measured via questionnaires (HHIE-S, LIFE-H, WHOQOL-BREF). A total of 180 subjects, divided into six groups, will be recruited in Quebec: (1) a control group; (2) presbycusis without hearing aids; (3) presbycusis with hearing aids; and their relatives. Preliminary results (n=78) showed a significant difference in HHIE-S score between the first and third group, lowering the quality of life.

Summary: The impacts of presbycusis and hearing aids are often discussed in audiology. However, little evidence exists regarding the relationship between environmental, personal factors, presbycusis and the resulting social isolation. In addition, there is little data on the impact on the families of people suffering with hearing loss. This type of information would be relevant to clinical practice in order to optimize hearing rehabilitation for this population.Thus, the main objective is to determine whether hearing loss and the use of hearing aids in elderly people with presbycusis have an impact on their quality of life and social participation as well as that of their relatives, while taking into account personal and environmental factors.

The main feature of the project is that data is collected on a large number of subjects from the same region, allowing for a range of variables including communication styles, importance of a family network, stigma, ageism, education level and socio-economic status. Detailed audiological data (hearing thresholds, middle ear function) were sought for those with hearing loss, a practice not common in quality of life studies.

With regard to the initial hypotheses, we expected that the social participation and quality of life of elderly people with presbycusis would be lower in those who do not wear hearing aids than in those who do wear them or in those with normal hearing, as well as in their respective relatives. In addition, we also expected that presbycusis, hearing aid use, and other variables, such as general health status and social isolation, would explain a significant portion of the observed variability in quality of life and social participation.

A total of 180 subjects will be recruited in Quebec, including 90 people aged 60 or over and a member of their immediate family. The subjects were divided into 6 groups: a control group of elderly normal-hearing persons; a group of elderly persons with presbycusis and not using hearing aids; a group of elderly persons with presbycusis and using hearing aids; relatives of groups 1, 2 and 3. Group formation is based on self-perceived hearing difficulties.

Quality of life and social participation were measured using 3 questionnaires: Hearing Handicap Inventory for Elderly - Screening (HHIE-S); Lifestyle Measure (LIFE-H); WHOQOL-BREF (Generic Quality of Life Scale). A socio-demographic and cognitive questionnaire (MOCA) were also administered. The questionnaires were administered during a remote meeting, followed by a brief hearing assessment.

Preliminary results (78 subjects, 2021) showed a significant difference in the HHIE-S score between the control group and the third group (emotional, social and total score). No significant differences were found for LIFE-S and WHOQOL-BREF. However, these are preliminary results, as several factors were not taken into account. The study continues with the goal of pursuing recruitment and data collection (participant's hearing and patterns of hearing aides use).

The study highlights, the impact of hearing aides on the quality of life of the elderly and, at the same time, underlines the importance of studying the functional consequences of presbycusis, which are often neglected.

Detailed statistical analyses and full results (n=180) will be presented at the conference.

Learning Objectives:

Evaluate the benefits associated with the use of hearing aids on quality of life and social participation in the context of presbycusis, in a population isolated and their relatives.