Participação social de idosos com perda auditiva

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The social participation of elderly individuals with hearing loss from the perspective of an active and healthy life has been a widely debated topic; discussing factors that involve this topic, especially those related to more effective communication, has become, over the past decades, a goal for professionals working with this population. OBJECTIVE: This thesis aims to discuss the impact of hearing loss and the use of hearing aids in elderly individuals with hearing loss on their social participation. METHODS: It is structured based on three articles with specific themes and objectives: Article I - systematic review, whose objective was to analyze scientific articles that deal with self-perception about the effects of the use of HA on the social participation of adult and elderly people with hearing loss. Article II - Analyze the self-perception of elderly people with hearing loss, users and nonusers of hearing aids, about their social participation and communication. Article III - Analyze the vision of elderly individuals with hearing loss, users and non-users of hearing aids, about factors that influence their social participation. RESULTS: We found evidence of some factors that influence the social participation of elderly individuals with hearing loss; among these, the use of hearing aids stands out as a device that may contribute to improve the social participation of elderly individuals; moreover, the financial situation and aspects related to communication were highlighted. In article I, we selected 08 articles that presented the relationship between the use of HA in elderly adults with hearing loss and their perception of restricted social participation according to all the criteria and the outcome of interest of the systematic review. It was found that hearing aids influence the social participation of people with hearing loss. In article II, the results of LIFE-H 3.1 focused on communication show that elderly people using hearing aids had more favorable results in their self-perception of social participation, especially in activities that require direct communication and interaction with others. In article III, we found some factors that influence the social participation of the elderly, such as the lack of resources, which may lead the elderly with hearing loss to a life without leisure and healthy interactions, whereas positive factors, such as the effective use of hearing aids, may provide important improvements in communication, influencing social relationships and interactions with others positively. Moreover, this research indicated that the use of the LIFE-H 3.1 and the HHIEs instruments was effective in the self-perception of social participation of the elderly participants, bringing robust results to this thesis. FINAL REMARKS: It is worth mentioning that further research is needed to relate hearing loss in the elderly to their social participation, especially when comparing groups of hearing aid users and non-users. Not using HAs, the lack 11 of financial resources, and the difficulties caused by hearing loss bring unfavorable consequences to this part of the population, such as anxiety, social isolation, frustration, and even depression. In order to improve the lives of elderly people with hearing loss, specific actions and strategies are required for this audience, which favor the use of HA in a more efficient manner, helping them to participate more actively in society. It is imperative that existing public policies for the elderly be put into practice and that new policies be developed to benefit them in terms of health, social actions, hearing rehabilitation, and social participation.