An Exploratory Study of the Impact of Hearing Handicap on Listening Fatigue During Health Care Encounters Among Older Adults.

PURPOSE: This exploratory study examined if hearing handicap in older adults affected listening-related fatigue during health care interactions and explored whether different face mask types worn during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic influenced this association.

METHOD: A cross-sectional observational study among community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older receiving care at an academic health care system outpatient audiology or otolaryngology clinics was conducted. Eligible participants completed and returned a mail-in self-reported packet including the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (Screener Version; HHIE-S) and the 10-item Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale for Adults (VFS-A-10). Face masks were institutionally required during the COVID-19 pandemic, with options including (a) standard surgical face mask, (b) clear face mask, or (c) standard surgical face mask with face shield. General linear models assessed differences in VFS-A-10 by HHIE-S score.

RESULTS

Among the 104 participants, the HHIE-S mean was 15.3 (SD = 10.4); 34.3% experienced no hearing handicap, 45.5% experienced mild to moderate handicap, and 20.2% experienced severe handicap. Higher hearing handicap scores correlated with increased listening-related fatigue (β = 0.66, SE = 0.06, p ≤ .0001). Clear masks were linked to less listening-related fatigue, especially for individuals with higher degrees of hearing handicap, compared to standard surgical masks (β = -0.30, SE = 0.10, p ≤ .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this exploratory study underscore the need for tailored communication strategies and accommodations to enhance the health care experience for individuals with hearing handicap. Future research could explore listening-related fatigue in other health care settings.