[Study on hearing impairment among elderly population in the community of Taiyuan city, Shanxi province].

Objective: To study the characteristics and influencing factors on hearing impairment among elderly population in the community of Taiyuan city.
Methods: 384 ageing people above 60 years old were selected from Chaoyang and Guandi community in Taiyuan city by multi-stage sampling. Data on influencing factors of hearing impairment were collected by questionnaire. 5 ml fasting blood samples were drawn to detect the level of glucose, triglyceride and cholesterin in the blood samples. All the objects were tested with binaural hearing. The level of binaural hearing threshold at 0.5 kHz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 3 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz were measured by GVSLN-TC-GK2000 hearing-assistant evaluative apparatus. The level of 3 kHz, 4 kHz, average hearing threshold from ear with better audition was chosen as dependent variable. Socio-demographic data, environmental factors and biochemical indicator were chosen as independent variables, t test, ANOVA and accumulative logistic regression were performed to analyze the influencing factors on hearing impairment by software SPSS 13.0.
Results: The prevalence of hearing impairment among elderly population was 90.9%. The hearing disorder was 78.6% with 1.3% of them using hearing-assistant apparatus. Results from single factor analysis showed that the average levels of 3 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz hearing thresholds were significantly different among elderly with different age, sex, education background and the levels of glucose and cholesterin (P < 0.01). Results of accumulative logistics regression showed that except glucose in which was the only one included in regression model of lower median frequency group, all the others were included in regression model of frequency group. Being male, older age and with higher level of glucose and cholesterin in blood were risk factors causing hearing impairment. Higher education level seemed to be a preventive factor.
Conclusion: Hearing impairment appeared in higher prevalence among the elderly population, suggesting that proper measures should be taken. It is beneficial for abating hearing impairment to decrease the level of glucose and cholesterin in blood.