地域リハビリテーション活動支援事業でタブレットオージオメータを導入した効果についての報告

Report on the effect of introducing a tablet audiometer in a community-based rehabilitation activity support project

　【はじめに】言語聴覚士は，住民運営の通いの場などで地域支援を行っているが，聴覚に関しては講話にとどまっている現状がある．今回，タブレットオージオメータを用いて，施設内で簡易に難聴のスクリーニングを行い，必要な支援につなげられるかを検討した．【方法】研究1)当院で言語聴覚療法を受けていた7名を対象に，防音室内での聴力検査結果と病室でのタブレットオージオメータの聴力検査結果を比較した．研究2)高齢者サークルで支援の要望があった21名を対象に，タブレットオージオメータでの聴力検査と事後アンケートを実施・分析した．【結果】研究1)両条件下での聴力検査結果に強い正の相関(r＝.91〜97)がみられた．研究2)軽度以上と判定された難聴者が76％であり，このうちの21％はアンケートより耳鼻科受診や補聴器を検討するとの回答が得られた．【考察】タブレットオージオメータの導入は，高齢者の適切な支援に結び付く可能性が示唆された．

　In recent years, speech-language-hearing therapists, as well as other rehabilitation professionals, visit local residents' gathering places to provide preventive care support. As part efforts to address age-related hearing loss, this research investigates whether these visits could be used as opportunities to screen for hearing loss using a tablet audiometer in conjunction with informative talks. First, we tested hearing of 7 inpatients in our hospital receiving speech therapy with a standard audiometer in a soundproof room and with a tablet audiometer with insert earphones in the patients' rooms and compared the results. The results in the two conditions yielded a high correlation, ranging from 0.91 to 0.97. Next, 21 elderly community residents who requested a hearing screening were tested with a tablet audiometer and answered a post-test questionnaire. Mild or severe hearing loss was found in 76% of the subjects, and 21% of the respondents indicated that they would consider seeing an otolaryngologist and using hearing aids. Thus, using a tablet audiometer seems to be effective in identifying hearing loss, and therefore useful in helping elderly people in the community.