Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: The hearing aid adoption rate among older adults in Japan is lower than that in other developed countries. Herein, a survey was conducted to identify this bottleneck and develop countermeasures. This study aimed to examine whether raising awareness of the relationship between hearing loss and dementia is significant for hearing tests and adopting hearing aids.
METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to participants aged 65 or older who visited a general hospital to determine the background factors (1) for a recent history of hearing tests, (2) for the desire to visit an otolaryngologist and have a hearing test, (3) for recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship, and (4) for adopting hearing aids.
RESULTS: A total of 517 patients (mean age, 78.06; SD 6.97), representing 2.4% of the region\'s older-adult population, participated in the survey. A history of hearing tests within five years was significantly associated with recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship (adjusted OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.49-3.72). The desire to visit an otolaryngologist or have a hearing test was significantly associated with recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship (adjusted OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.02-2.85). Moreover, 39.3% were aware of the hearing loss-dementia relationship. The significant associated factors were being female (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.64-3.81) and having interpersonal hobbies (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.11-2.49). The significant background factors for adopting hearing aids were older age (OR 6.95, 95% CI 1.90-25.40), self-reported severe hearing impairment (OR 5.49, 95% CI 2.55-11.80), and living alone (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.18-5.89). Recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship was not a significant factor.
CONCLUSIONS: Raising awareness of the hearing loss-dementia relationship was not associated with adopting hearing aids for self-reported hearing impairments. However, it may be associated with otolaryngology visits and hearing tests. Thus, steps like hearing screening for older adults are also essential.
METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to participants aged 65 or older who visited a general hospital to determine the background factors (1) for a recent history of hearing tests, (2) for the desire to visit an otolaryngologist and have a hearing test, (3) for recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship, and (4) for adopting hearing aids.
RESULTS: A total of 517 patients (mean age, 78.06; SD 6.97), representing 2.4% of the region\'s older-adult population, participated in the survey. A history of hearing tests within five years was significantly associated with recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship (adjusted OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.49-3.72). The desire to visit an otolaryngologist or have a hearing test was significantly associated with recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship (adjusted OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.02-2.85). Moreover, 39.3% were aware of the hearing loss-dementia relationship. The significant associated factors were being female (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.64-3.81) and having interpersonal hobbies (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.11-2.49). The significant background factors for adopting hearing aids were older age (OR 6.95, 95% CI 1.90-25.40), self-reported severe hearing impairment (OR 5.49, 95% CI 2.55-11.80), and living alone (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.18-5.89). Recognizing the hearing loss-dementia relationship was not a significant factor.
CONCLUSIONS: Raising awareness of the hearing loss-dementia relationship was not associated with adopting hearing aids for self-reported hearing impairments. However, it may be associated with otolaryngology visits and hearing tests. Thus, steps like hearing screening for older adults are also essential.
摘要：
目的：日本老年人的助听器采用率低于其他发达国家。在这里，进行了一项调查，以找出这一瓶颈并制定对策。这项研究旨在研究提高对听力损失与痴呆症之间关系的认识是否对听力测试和采用助听器具有重要意义。
方法：对到综合医院就诊的65岁或以上的参与者进行问卷调查，以确定近期听力测试史的背景因素（1），（2）希望拜访耳鼻喉科医生并进行听力测试，（3）为了认识听力损失-痴呆的关系，(4)采用助听器。
结果：共有517名患者（平均年龄，78.06；SD6.97），占该地区老年人口的2.4%，参与了调查。五年内的听力测试史与识别听力损失-痴呆关系显着相关（校正OR2.36，95％CI1.49-3.72）。拜访耳鼻喉科医师或进行听力测试的愿望与识别听力损失与痴呆的关系显着相关（校正OR1.70，95％CI1.02-2.85）。此外，39.3%的人知道听力损失与痴呆的关系。显著相关因素为女性(OR2.50,95%CI1.64-3.81)和有人际关系爱好(OR1.66,95%CI1.11-2.49)。采用助听器的重要背景因素是年龄较大（OR6.95，95％CI1.90-25.40），自我报告严重听力障碍（OR5.49，95%CI2.55-11.80），和独居（OR2.63，95%CI1.18-5.89）。认识到听力损失与痴呆的关系不是一个重要因素。
结论：提高对听力损失-痴呆关系的认识与使用助听器治疗自我报告的听力障碍无关。然而,它可能与耳鼻咽喉科就诊和听力测试有关。因此，对老年人进行听力筛查等步骤也是必不可少的。
方法：对到综合医院就诊的65岁或以上的参与者进行问卷调查，以确定近期听力测试史的背景因素（1），（2）希望拜访耳鼻喉科医生并进行听力测试，（3）为了认识听力损失-痴呆的关系，(4)采用助听器。
结果：共有517名患者（平均年龄，78.06；SD6.97），占该地区老年人口的2.4%，参与了调查。五年内的听力测试史与识别听力损失-痴呆关系显着相关（校正OR2.36，95％CI1.49-3.72）。拜访耳鼻喉科医师或进行听力测试的愿望与识别听力损失与痴呆的关系显着相关（校正OR1.70，95％CI1.02-2.85）。此外，39.3%的人知道听力损失与痴呆的关系。显著相关因素为女性(OR2.50,95%CI1.64-3.81)和有人际关系爱好(OR1.66,95%CI1.11-2.49)。采用助听器的重要背景因素是年龄较大（OR6.95，95％CI1.90-25.40），自我报告严重听力障碍（OR5.49，95%CI2.55-11.80），和独居（OR2.63，95%CI1.18-5.89）。认识到听力损失与痴呆的关系不是一个重要因素。
结论：提高对听力损失-痴呆关系的认识与使用助听器治疗自我报告的听力障碍无关。然而,它可能与耳鼻咽喉科就诊和听力测试有关。因此，对老年人进行听力筛查等步骤也是必不可少的。
