Analysis of participation restriction and high-frequency audiometry in adults and elderly people with mild hearing loss

Abstract

Purpose to compare the responses of adults and elderly people with mild hearing loss in the participation restriction inventory and relate the degree of restriction with hearing loss at high frequencies, as well as to evaluate whether there is a difference between the responses of men and women in relation to participation restrictions. Methods the sample of 38 participants was made up of adults and elderly people with an average of 67 years of age, of both sexes, enrolled in a hearing health service. High Frequency Audiometry was performed and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults or Hearing Handicap Inventory for Elderly questionnaires were administered. The statistical study applied to the data was the Mann-Whitney test, oneway analysis of variance and Chi-Square. Results significant differences were found between the elderly and adult groups in relation to the degree of participation restriction, but no correlations were found between high frequency audiometry and the degree of participation restriction. It was also possible to observe that women have a greater degree of participation restriction than men. Conclusion adults have higher rates of perception of participation restrictions when compared to the elderly and there is a difference between the perception of handicap according to gender, but the results of the questionnaires are not related to hearing loss in high frequencies in this population.