Gender-specific relationships between hearing loss, its rehabilitation, and quality of life in middle-aged and older adults.

Abstract

Backgrounds: Hearing loss (HL) is associated with various functional deficits.

Aims/objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients with HL according to their gender.

Materials and methods: Participants aged 40 or older from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2021) with data on otologic evaluations and the Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument with 8 Items (HINT-8) were included. They were classified into the bilateral hearing, unilateral hearing, or disabling HL groups based on moderate HL (> 40 dB) in each ear.

Results: Among males, the disabling HL group scored significantly worse in climbing stairs, vitality, working, and depression compared to both the bilateral and unilateral hearing groups (p < 0.05 for all), and reported significantly lower happiness than the bilateral hearing group (p = 0.041). Furthermore, hearing aid users had significantly higher vitality than non-users (p = 0.009). In females, only vitality was significantly worse in the disabling HL group (p = 0.019).

Conclusions and significance: Republic of Korea Male patients with disabling HL experienced a greater decline in QOL and hearing aids might be associated with preserving vitality in males. Further research is required to elucidate greater vulnerability to HL in males.