Social isolation and its influencing factors among age-related hearing loss patients: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Hearing loss is considered one of the most common symptoms of aging worldwide, and age-related hearing loss is one of the three major chronic illnesses that affect older adults. This study examined social isolation among age-related hearing loss patients and its influencing factors. This cross-sectional descriptive study collected data from older adults with hearing loss from March 2019 to February 2020 at a university hospital. Social isolation, subjective hearing handicap, and communication-related life satisfaction were measured using a structured questionnaire. Objective hearing function was evaluated using an audiometer (Madsen Asterao 2). The independent t test, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist was used for reporting this study. Almost half (49.9%) of 203 age-related hearing loss patients aged 60 to 92, with a mean age of 71.6 ± 7.95 years, experienced social isolation. Factors predicting social isolation were communication-related life satisfaction (P < .001), religiosity (P = 001), experience using hearing aids (P = .006), and subjective hearing handicap (P = .047). The explanatory power of the model was 58.2%. Interventions to reduce social isolation among age-related hearing loss patients should be implemented in an effort to develop effective, appropriate, and comprehensive strategies targeting this high-risk group.