Use of hearing AIDS and XXXX in an older Australian population.

@entity1 @entity393 @entity1652 @entity8019
BACKGROUND: @entity393 is a common sensory impairment experienced by older @entity1 . Evidence shows that the use of hearing aids and/or @entity1652 ( @entity1652 ) can benefit those with a @entity393 but that historically the uptake and use of these technologies has remained relatively low compared with the number of @entity1 who report a @entity393 . PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, usage, and factors associated with the use of hearing aids and @entity1652 in an older representative Australian population. RESEARCH DESIGN: A population-based survey. STUDY SAMPLE: A total of 2956 @entity1 out of 3914 eligible @entity1 between the ages of 49 and 99 yr (mean age 67.4 yr), living in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, completed a hearing study conducted from 1997 to 2003. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Hearing levels were assessed using pure tone audiometry, and subjects were administered a comprehensive hearing survey by audiologists, which included questions about hearing aid and @entity8019 usage. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with hearing aid and @entity8019 usage. RESULTS: Of the surveyed population, 33% had a @entity393 as measured in the better ear. 4.4% had used an @entity8019 in the past 12 mo, and 11% owned a hearing aid. Of current hearing aid owners, 24% never used their aids. @entity8019 and hearing aid usage were found to be associated with increasing age, @entity393 , and self-perceived @entity393 . CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that hearing aid ownership and @entity8019 usage remains low in the older population. Given the significant proportion of older @entity1 who self-report and have a measured @entity393 , it is possible that more could be helped through the increased use of hearing aid and/or @entity8019 technology. Greater efforts are needed to promote the benefits of these technologies and to support their use among older @entity1 with @entity393 .
