The Frequency of Social Hearing Handicaps in Denmark

Abstract

At the Danish State Hearing Centres all patients with deficient hearing are entitled to otological-audiological examinations, and if needed they are fitted with commercial type hearing-aids free of charge. These hearing-aids should be returned to the institutions after death. The case records of 1420 deceased persons thus fitted with hearing-aids have been examined covering the period January 1959-May 1961. A statistical analysis shows that 1.2% of the population are fitted with hearing-aids (for those older than 45 years 2.9 %). Graphs are presented of the distribution as to age and diagnosis. These figures are used to establish a prognosis for the future need in rehabilitation of the hard-of-hearing population.