ERIC Number: EJ1187756
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Aug
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1092-4388
EISSN: N/A
Positive Social Interaction and Hearing Loss in Older Adults Living in Rural and Urban Communities
Hay-McCutcheon, Marcia J.; Reed, Paul E.; Cheimariou, Spyridoula
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, v61 n8 p2138-2145 Aug 2018
Purpose: This study explored the extent to which hearing loss affected positive social interactions in older adults living in rural and urban communities. Method: Pure-tone behavioral hearing assessments were administered to 80 adults 60 years of age or older. In addition, all participants completed 2 questionnaires, the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (Sherbourne & Stewart, 1991) and the Patient Health Questionnaire--Ninth Edition (Kroenke, Spitzer, & Williams, 2001). Results: The preliminary findings suggested that adults with hearing loss living in rural towns had poorer positive social interactions compared with their urban counterparts with hearing loss. Also, adults with hearing loss living in rural towns had more symptoms of depression than adults with normal hearing who lived in these same geographical regions. Conclusions: These preliminary findings could indicate that older adults with hearing loss living in rural communities will face more isolation than adults with hearing loss living in urban settings. Increasing our understanding of the extent of social isolation in adults with hearing loss living in rural and urban populations will be necessary.
Descriptors: Interpersonal Relationship, Older Adults, Auditory Tests, Social Isolation, Rural Urban Differences, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Depression (Psychology), Hearing Impairments
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A