Hearing impairment and leisure activities, analysis of the National Survey on Quality of Life of Older Adults 2012

Abstract

Abstract: 

Hearing impairment can be defined as a partial or complete lack of hearing in one or both ears, this may include a limitation for communication. Previous studies have shown that as people age, leisure becomes a means to stay healthy.

The objective of this work was to analyze the association between hearing impairment and participation in leisure activities in adults older than 60 years who participated in the last Argentinian National Survey on Quality of Life of Older Adults 2012 (Encuesta Nacional sobre Calidad de Vida de Adultos Mayores, ENCaViAM).

A secondary analysis of the ENCaViAM database was performed. 4,654 older adults who answered the survey comprised the study population. Those with visual impairments or a diagnosis of depression were excluded. Finally, the sample was comprised of 4228 adults over 60 years.

The variable Hearing Impairment and the section "Free time" were analyzed. The section "free time" was composed of the dimensions “situations shared with friends”, “situations of cultural recreation”, “playful situations” and “travel and tourism”. Chi square test was applied to study the association between variables. There was no conflict of interest. The database used complies with Law 17,622 on the protection of statistical confidentiality.

The prevalence of hearing impairment was 12%. Participation in situations shared with friends was lower in the group with hearing impairment than in the group without impairment (45% vs 59%). Participation in cultural recreation situations was lower in the group with hearing impairment than in the group without deficit impairment (10% vs 17%). Participation in playful situations was lower in the group with hearing impairment than in the group without deficit impairment (19% vs 23%). Participation in travel and tourism was lower in the group with a hearing impairment than in the group without hearing impairment (13% vs 18%). A significant association (p <0.05) was found between the presence of hearing impairment and participation in all leisure activities.

It is concluded that in older adults in Argentina, hearing loss is associated with less participation in social leisure activities.