Estimated Prevalence of Deafness or Serious Hearing Difficulties Self-Reported by Arizona Residents Aged 65 Years and Older in 2021

Abstract

Background: A large percentage of the Arizona and U.S. populations are adults 65 years and older, and hearing loss is one of the leading causes of disability in this population. Our objective was to assess the statewide prevalence of self-reported deafness or serious hearing difficulties among Arizona adults and its association with age, sex, race, income, and education. Methods: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) asked a self-report question on deafness or serious hearing difficulty beginning in 2016. Using the BRFSS Web Enabled Analysis Tool, the 2021 “yes” responses to the hearing question were analyzed across four five-year age ranges for the variables of sex, race/ethnicity, income, and education. Cross-tabulations were used to estimate the associations between self-reported hearing loss and demographic information. Results: An estimated 247,380 Arizona adults 65 years and older self-reported deafness or serious hearing difficulty (4.60% of the total population of adults in Arizona, 95% confidence interval: 4.1, 5.2%). Prevalence of self-reported deafness/serious difficulty hearing increased as age ranges increased. There was a higher prevalence for males than females across each age range and overall 65+ sample. A higher prevalence was estimated for non-Hispanic White Arizonan adults over 65+ than non-White or Hispanic Arizonan adults over 65+ years old. Prevalence increased as age did for non-Hispanic White Arizonan adults. Arizona adults 65 years and older reported a higher prevalence of hearing difficulties with an income range between $35k-$49,999. Prevalence increased as age range increased for Arizonan adults who completed high school and some college or technical school, with the highest prevalence among all 65+ Arizonan adults among those who completed some college or technical school. Conclusions: A higher prevalence of self-reported deafness or serious hearing difficulty was associated with older age (80+ years old), males, non-Hispanic Whites, income of $35k-$49,999, and completion of some college/technical school. Results highlight the need for accessible hearing healthcare treatment and rehabilitation for Arizonans 65+ as they make up a large portion of the Arizona population.