Michelle L Arnold1,2, Kathryn Hyer2, Brent J Small2, Theresa Chisolm3, Gabrielle H Saunders4, Cathy L McEvoy2, David J Lee5, Sumitrajit Dhar6, Kathleen E Bainbridge7. 1. College of Science & Mathematics, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, Sarasota. 2. School of Aging Studies, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa. 3. Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa. 4. Eriksholm Research Centre, Snekkersten, Kingdom of Denmark. 5. University of Miami Health System, University of Miami, Miami, Florida. 6. Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. 7. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Abstract
Importance: Hearing loss is highly prevalent in the rapidly growing and aging Hispanic/Latino population in the United States. However, little is known or understood about hearing aid use among US adults from Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. Objective: To describe hearing aid prevalence and factors associated with hearing aid use among US adults of Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cross-sectional data were collected between 2008 and 2011 from 4 field centers (Bronx, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and San Diego, California) as part of the multisite Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Included individuals were adults aged 45 to 76 years with hearing loss (pure-tone average ≥25 dB HL) from randomly selected households in the 4 field centers and were from self-reported Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, including Central American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South American, and mixed or other backgrounds. Analysis, including age- and background-weighted prevalence estimates and multivariate logistic regression using survey methodology, was conducted from 2017 to 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome of interest was self-reported hearing aid use. The a priori hypothesis was that hearing aid prevalence estimates among included Hispanic/Latino adults would be less than recently published estimates of the general US population, and that poorer hearing, higher perceived need, older age, and higher acculturation would be associated with hearing aid use. Results: Of 1898 individuals with hearing loss, 1064 (56.1%) were men, and the mean (SE) age was 60.3 (0.3) years. A total of 87 (4.6%) included individuals reported hearing aid use. Increased odds of self-reported use was associated with poorer measured hearing (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.09), higher Hearing Handicap Inventory-Screening scores (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.08), access to health insurance coverage (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.20-4.37), and place of residence (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.17-5.02) in an adjusted logistic regression model. Conclusions and Relevance: Findings revealed underuse of hearing aids among adults from Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. A primary factor related to use was lack of health insurance, which suggests that access influenced hearing aid use. Changes to policy and clinical service provision are needed to increase hearing aid use among aging Hispanic/Latino adults in the United States.
Importance: Hearing loss is highly prevalent in the rapidly growing and aging Hispanic/Latino population in the United States. However, little is known or understood about hearing aid use among US adults from Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. Objective: To describe hearing aid prevalence and factors associated with hearing aid use among US adults of Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cross-sectional data were collected between 2008 and 2011 from 4 field centers (Bronx, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; and San Diego, California) as part of the multisite Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Included individuals were adults aged 45 to 76 years with hearing loss (pure-tone average ≥25 dB HL) from randomly selected households in the 4 field centers and were from self-reported Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, including Central American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South American, and mixed or other backgrounds. Analysis, including age- and background-weighted prevalence estimates and multivariate logistic regression using survey methodology, was conducted from 2017 to 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome of interest was self-reported hearing aid use. The a priori hypothesis was that hearing aid prevalence estimates among included Hispanic/Latino adults would be less than recently published estimates of the general US population, and that poorer hearing, higher perceived need, older age, and higher acculturation would be associated with hearing aid use. Results: Of 1898 individuals with hearing loss, 1064 (56.1%) were men, and the mean (SE) age was 60.3 (0.3) years. A total of 87 (4.6%) included individuals reported hearing aid use. Increased odds of self-reported use was associated with poorer measured hearing (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.09), higher Hearing Handicap Inventory-Screening scores (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.08), access to health insurance coverage (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.20-4.37), and place of residence (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.17-5.02) in an adjusted logistic regression model. Conclusions and Relevance: Findings revealed underuse of hearing aids among adults from Hispanic/Latino backgrounds. A primary factor related to use was lack of health insurance, which suggests that access influenced hearing aid use. Changes to policy and clinical service provision are needed to increase hearing aid use among aging Hispanic/Latino adults in the United States.
Authors: Scott D Nash; Karen J Cruickshanks; Guan-Hua Huang; Barbara E K Klein; Ronald Klein; F Javier Nieto; Theodore S Tweed Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-04-18 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Alicia Fernandez; Dean Schillinger; E Margaret Warton; Nancy Adler; Howard H Moffet; Yael Schenker; M Victoria Salgado; Ameena Ahmed; Andrew J Karter Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2010-09-29 Impact factor: 5.128