Comparison of Mental Health in Hearing Impairment Elderly with Hearing Aid and without Hearing Aid in Ahvaz in 2012

Hearing loss can affect physical, mental and social health of deaf individuals and may lead to depression, anxiety, isolation, suspicion and stress. This study is aimed to compare the mental health in hearing impaired elderly with hearing aid and hearing impaired elderly without hearing aid, referred to Ahvaz imam Khomeini hospital. This is a descriptive – analytic, case-control study. The study population included 72 hearing impaired elderly with 60 years of age and older referred to Ahvaz imam Khomeini hospital. Therefore, 36 patients with hearing aid and 36 patients without hearing aid were allocated into each group consisted of 18 women and men. Data collecting tool included Kohlberg general health questionnaire – 28 (GHQ-28). Public health measures (GHQ-28) includes general health and four subscales of anxiety, depression, physical symptoms, social dysfunction. Independent samples t test was used for data analysis. Mean mental health scores in hearing impaired elderly without hearing aid and with hearing aid was 48.13 and 35.66, respectively. T test showed that the difference between 2 groups is statistically significant (p=0.001) and the difference mean mental health scores between men and women in 2 groups was significant (p≤0.049). Difference in mean mental health subscales between 2 groups was also significant thus hearing impaired elderly without hearing aid compared to hearing impaired elderly with hearing aid are experienced more depression, anxiety, physical symptoms and social dysfunction(p≤0.003). Results suggest that hearing impaired elderly with hearing aid compared to persons without hearing aid have more mental health scores.