Opportunistic hearing screening in elderly inpatients

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of occult hearing loss in elderly inpatients, to evaluate feasibility of opportunistic hearing screening and to determine subsequent provision of hearing aids. MATERIALS AND METHODS Subjects (>65 years) were recruited from five elderly care wards. Hearing loss was detected by a ward-based hearing screen comprising patient-reported assessment of hearing disability and a whisper test. Subjects failing the whisper test or reporting hearing difficulties were offered formal audiological assessment. RESULTS Screening was performed on 51 patients aged between 70 and 95 years. Of the patients, 21 (41%) reported hearing loss and 16 (31%) failed the whisper test. A total of 37 patients (73%) were referred for audiological assessment with 17 (33%) found to have aidable hearing loss and 11 were fitted with hearing aids (22%). DISCUSSION This study highlights the high prevalence of occult hearing loss in elderly inpatients. Easy two-step screening can accurately identify patients with undiagnosed deafness resulting in significant proportions receiving hearing aids. KEY SENTENCES Approximately 14% of the elderly population use hearing aids despite a reported prevalence of deafness in up to 55%.The use of hearing aids is associated with an improvement in physical, emotional, mental and social well-being.An easy screening test for hearing loss consists of patient-reported hearing loss and a whisper test.Opportunistic screening of elderly inpatients resulted in referral of 73% of screened patients for formal audiology.Of the screened patients, 22% were provided with hearing aids.