台灣地區老年人聽力損失與心理健康狀態之關聯

目的：老年性聽力損失是一種慢性老年疾病，多半是年齡的增長所產生的生理退化，或其他外在因素造成聽覺器官加速老化。根據衛生福利部身心障礙人數從2013~2017年歷年調查，臺灣聽覺機能障礙者年齡65歲以上從79,801人上升至83,947人，我國65歲以上老年人口占總人口比率在2018年3月底達到14.05％，宣告臺灣正式邁入「高齡社會」，顯示未來罹患老年性聽損人數將趨於上升。聽力損失的年長者，長期飽受無法正確判斷他人話語的折磨，容易情緒不安、易怒、悲觀、抑鬱等。本研究將探討臺灣地區年長者聽力狀態與心理健康狀態之關係。方法：本研究資料來源取自衛生福利部衛生福利資料科學中心之中老年調查檔，擷取2007年居住於台灣本島地區之60歲以上年長者為研究對象，共3153人。本研究使用統計套裝軟體SAS 9.4進行資料分析，分析描述性統計及推論性統計，利用複迴歸分析了解影響臺灣地區年長者及臺灣地區聽力損失年長者心理健康狀態分數之相關因素。結果：以2007年結果來看，聽力清楚佔82.5％、配戴助聽器後聽力清楚佔2.83％、配戴助聽器後聽力不清楚佔1.08％、沒有配戴助聽器且聽力不清楚佔13.6％；心理健康狀態分數依序為5.23分、4.87分、6.5分、6.8分(分數愈高表示狀況愈差)。在複迴歸分析中，臺灣年長者與聽力狀態、性別及家人談心意願程度有顯著影響心理健康狀態；聽損年長者與對居住地喜歡程度、家人談心意願程度及自覺身體健康狀態有顯著影響心理健康狀態。結論與建議：本研究得知沒有配戴助聽器且聽力不清楚的年長者心理健康狀態比聽力正常的年長者差，而配戴助聽器後聽力清楚(成功矯正聽損)的年長者心理健康狀態分數有所改善。建議年長者與家屬一發現症狀就應立即就醫，主管機關教育民眾配戴助聽器的重要性，擬定政策幫助患者能更容易取的醫療資源，醫療提供者透過預防篩選，及早發現及早治療。

OBJECTIVE: Age-related hearing loss is a chronic aging disease, mostly due to physiological deterioration caused by age. Other external factors that cause accelerated aging of auditory organs. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare the number of people with handicapped from 2013 to 2017, the number of hearing Impairment in Taiwan increased from 78,897 to 83,947 and the elderly population over 65 years old reached 14.05% at the end of March 2018. It’s announced that Taiwan has officially entered the "aging society", indicating that the number of people suffering from hearing loss will grow in the future. Hearing loss elderly had been long-suffering tortured can’t judge other people''s right to speak, emotional anxiety, irritability, pessimism and depression. This study will use Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging of the Health and Welfare Data Science Center. To understanding The correlation between hearing loss and mental Health Status of the Elderly in Taiwan.METHODS: The source of the research data was taken from Taiwan Longitudinal Study in Aging of the Health and Welfare Data Science Center. Taking 60 years old or older who lived in island of Taiwan in 2007 as the research object. The number of the case was 3,153. This study use SAS 9.4 to do descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Using Multiple-regression analysis to understanding factors related to mental health status of elderly and hearing loss elderly in Taiwan.RESULTS: According to the results of 2007, 82.5% in hearing clearly , 2.83 % in have to wear hearing aids with hearing clearly, 1.08% in have to wear hearing aids with hearing unclearly and 13.6% in not wearing hearing aids with hearing unclearly. Mental health status scores in sequence 5.23 points, 4.87 points , 6.5 points and 6.8 points. In the Multiple-regression analysis, Mental health status of elderly have a significant influence on the state of hearing, the degree of preference for the place of residence, the degree of willingness of the family, and self-perceived physical health status. And mental health status of the hearing loss elderly have a significant influence on gender, marital status, the degree of preference for the place of residence, the degree of satisfaction with family support and care, participation in leisure/activities, self-perceived physical health status and chronic diseases.CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: This study found that without hearing aids, the mental health status of the elderly with unclear hearing is worse than that of the normal hearing, but the mental health of the elderly who have hearing aids and have clear hearing (successive correction of hearing loss) the status score has improved. Recommended for elderly and their families find a symptoms should seek immediate medical attention. The competent authorities should educate the public that the importance of wearing a hearing aid, help the patient can more easily take medical resources. Healthcare providers prevent hearing screening and early treatment. Future researchers can gain an in-depth understanding of the severity of chronic diseases in the elderly.