Hearing is a fundamental ability for participating in everyday life. Hearing loss can substantially impair physical, emotional and social well-being and lead to social isolation. This study examines the prevalence, associated characteristics and trends in self-reported hearing difficulties among adults in Germany.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
No immediate practice change warranted, but the data reinforce the case for routine hearing screening in primary care settings given hearing loss's links to social isolation and emotional health.
Population-level prevalence data from a large national survey strengthen the public health argument for earlier and broader hearing screening programs in Europe.
- 01Study uses the GEDA national health survey dataset from Germany.
- 02Reports prevalence and time trends of self-reported hearing difficulties in German adults.
- 03Hearing difficulties are associated with reduced social and emotional well-being.
- 04Self-reported measures may underestimate true audiometric hearing loss prevalence.
- 05Findings support public health investment in hearing screening and intervention.
Hearing difficulties are linked to reduced social and emotional well-being among German adults.
studysupportedPrevalence of self-reported hearing difficulties among German adults can be tracked via the GEDA dataset.
studysupported- PMID
- 42644092
- DOI
- 10.25646/14328.
- Journal
- Journal of Health Monitoring
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Adults in Germany participating in the GEDA national health interview survey
- Intervention
- Self-reported hearing difficulties (cross-sectional and trend analysis)
Primary outcomes
Prevalence of self-reported hearing difficulties; Trends in hearing difficulties over time; Association between hearing difficulties and social/emotional well-being
