Hearing Aid Effect on Elderly Depression in Nursing Home Patients

• Published in: Asia Pacific journal of speech, language, and hearing language, and hearing, 2008-06, Vol.11 (2), p.119-123
• Main Authors: Goorabi, Khosro, Hosseinabadi, Reza, Share, Hossein
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1361-3286
• DOI: 10.1179/136132808805297296

The inevitable deterioration in hearing ability that occurs with age (presbycusis) is a multifactorial process that can cause a mild to severe degree of hearing loss. Left untreated, presbycusis of a moderate or greater degree affects communication and can contribute to isolation, depression, and possibly dementia. The American Psychological Association estimates that 50% of older adults living in nursing homes suffer from depression. Evidence suggests that hearing aid use and audiologic follow-up lead to better mental health in older adults with hearing loss. The aim of the present study was to describe the effects of hearing aid (HA) use on elderly depression. Eighty older adults served as participants for the study. These were divided into three groups: 30 normal hearing; 30 hearing-impaired without HA; and 20 hearing-impaired adults with HA. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) was given to assess depression in these groups. BDI scores in these groups were compared using ANOVA. The average BDI scores recorded were 11.43, 21.53, and 16.40 for normal hearing, hearing-impaired without HA, and hearing-impaired adults with HA, respectively. The difference among groups was significant. Correlation between age and depression was significant in Groups 1 and 3. It was concluded that hearing aid use may be effective in decreasing depression in older adults.