Prevalence and factors associated with hearing loss and hearing aid use in korean elders

Background:this study examined hearing loss prevalence and hearing aid usage rates among korean elders by com-paring the differences between those with and without hearing loss,and between those who used and did not use hearing aids. methods: this study was based on data collected during the korean national health and nutrition examination sur-vey v (2010–2012). the study sample consisted of 5,447 koreans aged ≥60 years who received a hearing assessment. hearing loss was measured using a pure tone audiometry test and classified according to the world health organiza-tion’s criteria. hearing aid use was assessed by self-report. multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to de-termine the associations between hearing loss,hearing aid use,and related variables. results: hearing loss was found in 16.8% of the elders and only 15.9% of them used a hearing aid. male (95% ci: 1.27–2.15),tinnitus (95% ci: 1.58–2.32),dizziness (95% ci: 1.05–1.73),and occupational noise exposure (95% ci: 1.32–2.38) were the variables most strongly associated with hearing loss after multivariate adjustment. tinnitus (95% ci: 1.34–4.13) and occupational noise exposure (95% ci: 1.01–5.02) were strongly associated with hearing aid use af-ter multivariate adjustment. conclusion: more than half of south korean elders aged ≥60 and older have hearing loss but the rate of hearing aid use is very low. an aural public health program should address modifiable risk factors,such as tinnitus and noise ex-posure,and non-modifiable risk factors associated with hearing loss in the elderly. © 2015 iran j public health all right reserved.