Assessment of the Psychological Stress Experienced before and after the Use of a Hearing Aid in Elderly Patients

Abstract

Hearing aids are useful instruments for elderly patients with impaired hearing. However, the psychological effects of wearing a hearing aid have remained unclear until recently. A study was therefore performed at the Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital to determine such effects. Eighteen out of 50 questions included in the "Psychological Stress Response Scale (PSRS)" were selected and used to produce a questionnaire. The questionnaire was then given to and completed by 31 elderly patients who received and willingly used hearing aids. Of these patients, 20 were female and 11 were male. Their average age was 80.4 years(±5.3 years ranging from 66-89 years). The questionnaire was completed by each patient on two separate occasions: before the hearing aids were fitted and after.
In addition to the PSRS questionnaires, a second "hearing satisfaction" questionnaire was also completed, both before and after the hearing aids were fitted. The scores for depression, anxiety and anger were significantly lower after the hearing aid had been fitted. The score for depression showed a particularly distinctive decrease. The statistics also showed that the use of a hearing aid produced a significant improvement in the level of satisfaction patient's felt regarding their hearing. We conclude that the use of hearing aids by elderly patients not only alleviates their dissatisfaction with being unable to hear, but has additional psychological advantages.
These results suggest that the use of a hearing aid not only improves hearing but may also delay or offset the development of dementia. Accordingly, suitable hearing aids should be provided to elderly patients so that they may recover their hearing and benefit from the associated psychological advantages.