THE VALBY PROJECT - A SURVEY OF HEARING IN THE ELDERLY GREATER-THAN-OR-EQUAL-TO-80 YEARS OF AGE NOT PROVIDED WITH HEARING-AIDS

This contribution forms part of an epidemiological study of hearing in the elderly greater than or equal to 80 years of age, living in an ur ban area. The study concentrates on the prevalence of self-reported he aring problems in a sample of subjects not provided with hearing aids (HAs), hearing level, and knowledge of and attitudes to HAs. Among the total population of 2915 greater than or equal to 80 years of age, an age-and sex-matched sample of 565 subjects was invited to attend an e xtensive audiological evaluation, including a questionnaire, giving in formation on knowledge about and attitudes to HAs. Forty-one percent ( n = 231) attended, and dividing the attenders into 5 or 10 year age ba nds showed that the better and worse ear hearing levels, averaged acro ss 0.5-4kHz (BEHL/WEHL(0.5-4kH)), deteriorate significantly with incre asing age, and that no differences as a function of gender could be fo und. The prevalence of self-reported hearing problems was 44% (n = 101 ), and among these 30% (n = 30) indicated the potential need for a HA. A significantly poorer BEHL(0.5-4kHz) was found in these subjects com pared to those without hearing problems and/or need of a HA. In the to tal sample, 63% reported that a HA can ameliorate a hearing problem; h owever, 62% indicated that the HA should be invisible, and 28% that a HA 'makes you old'.