Evaluation of self-perception of hearing handicap among the elderly

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the self-perception of hearing handicap among members of a Centro de Convivência do Idoso (CCI), located in the city of Itajaí – SC. Forty seniors in the age group from 60 to 79 years were assessed. The sample was divided into two groups: Group I (26 females) and Group II (14 males). For the analysis of the self-perception of hearing handicap a questionnaire was used, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly – HHIE. The results were analyzed on the basis of the degree of hearing loss obtained by averaging their audiometric thresholds of the frequencies of 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz. The results show that the perception of the hearing handicap is independent from the degree of hearing loss. A larger percentage of the female participants (58%) reported to perceive a hearing handicap, when compared to the 43% of male participants that reported the same.