OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the quality of life of a group of presbycusic elderly after using the device and comparing the results with a group of normal hearing elderly subjects.
METHOD:
This was a cross-sectional clinical study with 51 subjects participants who were divided in two groups: the study group was made up of 36 presbycusic subjects, with an average age of 73 years, of both genders, and hearing aid users (minimum of 6 months of use); the control group comprised 15 normal hearing elderly, with average age of 69. We used the WHOQOL-bref, and the data on four areas covered (physical, psychological, environmental and social relations) were analyzed and compared between groups.
RESULTS:
Qualitatively, all presbycusic subjects stated that their life improved after the use of the prosthesis; however, WHOQOL-bref scores reveal: in relation to the physical domain, there was no significant difference between the responses of the two groups, probably because aging brings with it a number of limitations; in other areas, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups, with the presbycusic group's quality of life being worse. This fact allows us to infer that, in the group of presbycusic subjects, despite the use of the prosthesis, the limitations imposed by age continue to affect self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and social interaction.
CONCLUSION:
In both groups surveyed, age represents limitations regarding quality of life. In the group with presbycusis, it was possible to verify the improvement of auditory perception, but the improvement of overall quality of life of these individuals depends on other factors that may not be related to hearing loss when compared to the normal hearing group.
Speech; Language and Hearing Sciences; Hearing Loss; Hearing Aids; Elderly; Quality of Life
