Sains Malaysiana 45(9)(2016): 1405–1411

Hearing Loss and Risk Factors among Community Dwelling Older Adults in Selangor

(Hilang Pendengaran dan Faktor Risiko dalam Kalangan Warga Tua dalam Komuniti di Selangor)

SITI ZAMRATOL-MAI SARAH MUKARI^1*, NASHRAH MAAMOR², WAN SYAFIRA ISHAK² & WAN FAZLINA WAN HASHIM³

¹Institute of Ear, Hearing and Speech (I-HEARS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

²Audiology Program, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

³Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

Received: 15 January 2016/Accepted: 22 April 2016

ABSTRACT

There is a lack of population-based data on prevalence of hearing loss in Malaysia. The purpose of this population-based study was to determine the prevalence of hearing loss and its risk factors among 382 older adults aged 60 years and above, recruited through multistage random sampling in Selangor. Hearing level was measured using pure tone audiometry. Hearing loss was classified into at least mild hearing loss and significant hearing loss based on the pure tone average (PTA) of 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz. The examination also included face-to-face interview on hearing related medical history, noise exposure and hearing aid use. Overall, the prevalence of at least mild hearing loss and significant hearing loss were 73.6% (95% CI: 69.4 - 77.4) and 24.6% (95% CI: 20.8 - 28.7), respectively. The odds for at least ‘mild hearing loss’ were male gender, Chinese ethnicity, residing in urban areas, had no formal education or primary school education and history of hypertension. The risk for ‘significant hearing loss’ was significantly higher in males, those who lived in urban areas and elderly with cognitive impairment. Chinese and Indian ethnicities had significantly lower risks than Malay ethnic to have significant hearing loss. Despite the high prevalence of hearing loss, only 4.4% who might benefit from hearing aids wore them. In conclusion, findings from this study show high prevalence of hearing loss among the elderly population. Given the significant association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment, future studies should explore the role of hearing amplification in alleviating or slowing the progress of cognitive decline.

Keywords: Community dwelling elderly; hearing loss; prevalence; risk factors

ABSTRAK

Data prevalen hilang pendengaran di Malaysia adalah terhad. Kajian berasaskan populasi ini bertujuan menentukan prevalen hilang pendengaran dan faktor risikonya dalam kalangan 382 orang penduduk Selangor yang berumur 60 tahun dan ke atas yang dipilih melalui persampelan rawak pelbagai tahap. Tahap pendengaran diukur menggunakan audiometri nada tulen. Hilang pendengaran dibahagikan kepada dua tahap, iaitu hilang pendengaran ringan dan hilang pendengaran ketara berdasarkan purata nada tulen (PTA) pada frekuensi 0.5, 1, 2 dan 4 kHz. Temu bual bersemuka juga dilakukan untuk mendapatkan maklumat mengenai sejarah perubatan yang berkaitan dengan pendengaran, pendedahan kepada hingar, serta pemakaian alat bantu pendengaran. Prevalen hilang pendengaran ringan atau lebih adalah 73.6% (95% CI: 69.4 - 77.4), manakala hilang pendengaran ketara pula ialah 24.6% (95% CI: 20.8 - 28.7). Faktor risiko yang berkaitan dengan hilang pendengaran ringan atau lebih ialah lelaki, berbangsa Cina, tinggal di kawasan bandar dan tidak mendapat pendidikan formal atau pendidikan sekolah rendah dan mengidap hipertensi. Risiko untuk hilang pendengaran ketara pula ialah lelaki, tinggal di bandar dan kemerosotan kognitif. Bangsa Cina dan India didapati mempunyai risiko yang lebih rendah daripada bangsa Melayu bagi hilang pendengaran ketara. Walaupun prevalen hilang pendengaran adalah tinggi, hanya 4.4% daripada mereka yang boleh mendapat manfaat daripada alat bantu pendengaran memakainya. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini menunjukkan prevalen hilang pendengaran dalam kalangan warga tua adalah tinggi. Memandangkan hubungan yang signifikan antara hilang pendengaran dan kecelaan kognitif, kajian akan datang perlu meneroka peranan amplifikasi pendengaran dalam mengurang atau melambatkan kadar penurunan fungsi kognitif.

Kata kunci: Faktor risiko; hilang pendengaran; prevalen; warga tua dalam komuniti

REFERENCES

Agrawal, Y., Platz, E.A. & Niparko, J.K. 2008. Prevalence of hearing loss and differences by demographic characteristics among US adults: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004. Arch. Intern. Med. 168(14): 1522-1530.

Barrenas, M.L. 1997. Hair cell loss from acoustic trauma in chloroquine-treated red, black and albino guinea pigs. Audiology 36(4): 187-201.

Chien, W. & Lin, F.R. 2012. Prevalence of hearing aid use among older adults in the United States. Archives of Internal Medicine 172(3): 292-293.

Cruickshanks, K.J., Wiley, T.L., Tweed, T.S., Klein, B.E., Klein, R., Mares-Perlman, J.A. & Nondahl, D.M. 1998. Prevalence of hearing loss in older adults in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The epidemiology of hearing loss study. American Journal of Epidemiology 148(9): 879-886.

Cruz, M.S., Lima, M.C.P., Santos, J.L.F., de Oliveira, Y.A., Duarte, M.L.L. & de Abreu Ramos-Cerqueira, A.T. 2013. Hearing aid use among the elderly: SABE study-health, well-being and aging survey. Audiology - Communication Research 18(2): 133-142.

Ibrahim, N.M., Shohaimi, S., Chong, H.T., Rahman, A.H., Razali, R., Esther, E. & Basri, H.B. 2009. Validation study of the Mini-Mental State Examination in a Malay-speaking elderly population in Malaysia. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 27(3): 247-253.

Kilicdag, E.B., Yavuz, H., Bagis, T., Tarim, E., Erkan, A.N. & Kazanci, F. 2004. Effects of estrogen therapy on hearing in postmenopausal women. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 190(1): 77-82.

Kramer, S.E., Kapteyn, T.S., Kuik, D.J. & Deeg, D.J. 2002. The association of hearing impairment and chronic diseases with psychosocial health status in older age. Journal of Aging and Health 14(1): 122-137.

Lin, F.R., Yaffe, K., Xia, J., Xue, Q.L., Harris, T.B., Purchase- Helzner, E., Satterfield, S., Ayonayon, H.N., Ferrucci, L. & Simonsick, E.M. 2013. Hearing loss and cognitive decline in older adults. JAMA Internal Medicine 173(4): 293-299.

Lin, F.R., Thorpe, R., Gordon-Salant, S. & Ferrucci, L. 2011. Hearing loss prevalence and risk factors among older adults in the United States. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 66(5): 582-590.

Lotfi, Y., Mehrkian, S., Moossavi, A. & Faghih-Zadeh, S. 2009. Quality of life improvement in hearing-impaired elderly people after wearing a hearing aid. Archive of Iranian Medicine 12(4): 365-370.

MOH. 2007. Chapter 2: Malaysia’s Health Report 2007. Ministry of Health. pp. 155-166.

Pratt, S.R., Kuller, L., Talbott, E.O., McHugh-Pemu, K., Buhari, A.M. & Xu, X. 2009. Prevalence of hearing loss in Black and White elders: Results of the cardiovascular health study. Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research 52(4): 973-989.

Reron, A., Reron, E., Strek, P. & Trojnar-Podlesny, M. 2002. The effect of hormonal factors on the hearing organ in women, after surgical castration. Preliminary report. Neuroendocrinology Letters 23(5-6): 455-458.

Shahar, S., Omar, A., Vanoh, D., Hamid, T.A., Mukari, S.Z.M., Din, N.C., Rajab, N.F., Mohammed, Z., Ibrahim, R., Loo, W.H., Meramat, A., Kamaruddin, M.Z.A., Bagat, M.F. & Razali, R. 2015. Approaches in methodology for population-based longitudinal study on neuroprotective model for healthy longevity (TUA) among Malaysian older adults. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research DOI: 10.1007/ s40520-015-0511-4.

Shield, B. 2006. Evaluation of the social and economic costs of hearing impairment. A Report for Hear-it.

Strawbridge, W.J., Wallhagen, M.I., Shema, S.J. & Kaplan, G.A. 2000. Negative consequences of hearing impairment in old age: A longitudinal analysis. Gerontologist 40(3): 320-326.

Tay, T., Wang, J.J., Kifley, A., Lindley, R., Newall, P. & Mitchell, P. 2006. Sensory and cognitive association in older persons: Findings from an older Australian population. Gerontology 52(6): 386-394.

Tun, P.A., McCoy, S. & Wingfield, A. 2009. Aging, hearing acuity, and the attentional costs of effortful listening. Psychology and Aging 24(3): 761-766.

Uhlmann, R.F., Larson, E.B., Rees, T.S., Koepsell, T.D. & Duckert, L.G. 1989. Relationship of hearing impairment to dementia and cognitive dysfunction in older adults. JAMA 261(13): 1916-1919.

Valentijn, S.A., Van Boxtel, M.P., Van Hooren, S.A., Bosma, H., Beckers, H.J., Ponds, R.W. & Jolles, J. 2005. Change in sensory functioning predicts change in cognitive functioning: Results from a 6‐year follow‐up in the Maastricht aging study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 53(3): 374-380.

Wong, L.L.N., Yu, J.K.Y., Chan, S.S. & Tong, M.C.F. 2014. Screening of cognitive function and hearing impairment in older adults: A preliminary study. Bio. Med. Research International 2014: 1-7.

World Health Organization. 2013. Prevention of Blindness and Deafness (PBD) Program. Prevention of deafness and hearing impaired grades of hearing impairment. http:// www.who.int/pbd/deafness/hearing_impairment_grades/en/. Accessed on 20 May, 2014,

Zarina, Z.A. & Che Wan, A.H. 2010. Validation of Malay Mini Mental State Examination. Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry 16(1): 16-19.

Zhao, F., Manchaiah, V., St Claire, L., Danermark, B., Jones, L., Brandreth, M., Krishna, R. & Goodwin, R. 2015. Exploring the influence of culture on hearing help-seeking and hearing-aid uptake. International Journal of Audiology 54(7): 435-443.

*Corresponding author; email: zamratol@ukm.edu.my