[Hearing disorders--what do we know?].

Abstract

The object of this investigation is to describe persons with hearing defects knowledge about and the offers of help from the service for the deaf and, simultaneously, to describe the attitudes in the primary health sector to hearing problems and knowledge about the audiological possibilities in the hospital sector. One hundred and three consecutive persons referred to the service for the deaf for the first time (35 men and 68 women with an average of 74 years, range 15-94 years) were included in the investigation. The sex and age distributions were representative for the adult patient clientele in this department. On investigation in the department, the patients replied to a questionnaire which could reveal: the complaint which had led to referral to the department; how possible hearing problems had been discovered; why the patient sought help just now; how long the problem had been present; the treatment he/she expected to result from the investigation; whether the patient had previously discussed the hearing problem with the ENT specialist or his own general practitioner. 86% sought help in the department on account of hearing problems which had most frequently been noticed by the patient himself and his family. 55% had had the problem for one to five years and only 13% had had the problem for one year or less. 26% had experienced the hearing problem for more than five years. 59% expected relief of the problem in the form of a hearing aid, while 28% had no expectations about improvement or relief of their problem.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)