OBJECTIVE: To determine if age-related hearing loss is associated with social isolation and whether factors such as age, gender, income, race, or hearing aid use moderated the association. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Randomly sampled United States communities. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data on adults 60 to 84 years old from the 1999 to 2006 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. The dependent variable was social isolation, which was defined using the social isolation score (SIS), a 4-point composite index consisting of items pertaining to strength of social network and support. SIS scores ≥2 were considered indicative of social isolation. The independent (predictor) variable was the pure tone average of speech frequency (0.5-4 kHz) hearing thresholds in the better-hearing ear. Covariates included potential medical, demographic, and otologic confounders. We used multivariate logistic regression to evaluate the association between hearing loss and the odds of having social isolation. An exploratory analysis was performed to assess the strength of associations between hearing loss and individual items of the SIS scale. RESULTS: Greater hearing loss was associated with increased odds of social isolation in women aged 60 to 69 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.49 per 25-dB of hearing loss; 95% confidence interval, 1.91, 6.39; P < .001). Effect modification by gender was significant in this age group (P = .003). Hearing loss was not significantly associated with social isolation in other age and gender groups. CONCLUSIONS: Greater hearing loss is associated with increased odds of being social isolated in a nationally representative sample of women aged 60 to 69 years.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if age-related hearing loss is associated with social isolation and whether factors such as age, gender, income, race, or hearing aid use moderated the association. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Randomly sampled United States communities. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional data on adults 60 to 84 years old from the 1999 to 2006 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. The dependent variable was social isolation, which was defined using the social isolation score (SIS), a 4-point composite index consisting of items pertaining to strength of social network and support. SIS scores ≥2 were considered indicative of social isolation. The independent (predictor) variable was the pure tone average of speech frequency (0.5-4 kHz) hearing thresholds in the better-hearing ear. Covariates included potential medical, demographic, and otologic confounders. We used multivariate logistic regression to evaluate the association between hearing loss and the odds of having social isolation. An exploratory analysis was performed to assess the strength of associations between hearing loss and individual items of the SIS scale. RESULTS: Greater hearing loss was associated with increased odds of social isolation in women aged 60 to 69 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.49 per 25-dB of hearing loss; 95% confidence interval, 1.91, 6.39; P < .001). Effect modification by gender was significant in this age group (P = .003). Hearing loss was not significantly associated with social isolation in other age and gender groups. CONCLUSIONS: Greater hearing loss is associated with increased odds of being social isolated in a nationally representative sample of women aged 60 to 69 years.
Entities:
Keywords:
aging; hearing disorders; hearing loss; presbycusis; social isolation; social network; social support
Authors: Kevin J Contrera; Josh Betz; Jennifer A Deal; Janet S Choi; Hilsa N Ayonayon; Tamara Harris; Elizabeth Helzner; Kathryn R Martin; Kala Mehta; Sheila Pratt; Susan M Rubin; Suzanne Satterfield; Kristine Yaffe; Melissa Garcia; Eleanor M Simonsick; Frank R Lin Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2016-02-16 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Kevin J Contrera; Josh Betz; Jennifer Deal; Janet S Choi; Hilsa N Ayonayon; Tamara Harris; Elizabeth Helzner; Kathryn R Martin; Kala Mehta; Sheila Pratt; Susan M Rubin; Suzanne Satterfield; Kristine Yaffe; Eleanor M Simonsick; Frank R Lin Journal: J Aging Health Date: 2016-07-08
Authors: Jennifer A Deal; A Richey Sharrett; Marilyn S Albert; Josef Coresh; Thomas H Mosley; David Knopman; Lisa M Wruck; Frank R Lin Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2015-04-04 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Katharine K Brewster; Martina Pavlicova; Alexandra Stein; Mei Chen; Chen Chen; Patrick J Brown; Steven P Roose; Ana H Kim; Justin S Golub; Adam Brickman; Jessica Galatioto; Megan Kuhlmey; Bret R Rutherford Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2020-04-23 Impact factor: 3.485