노인인구의 증가는 세계적인 경향으로 보이며, 특히 우리나라는 급속도로 노인인구비율이 증가하고 있다. 우리나라의 65세 이상 노인인구는 2000년에 7.2%를 상회하여 고령화 사회에 진입하였고, 2006년에는 전체인구의 9.5%에 이르렀으며 2018년에는 14.3%로 유엔(UN)의 기준에 의하면 ‘고령사회(aged society)’가 되고, 2026년에는 20.8%로 ‘초 고령사회(super-aged society)’가 될 것으로 전망하고 있다. 기대수명도 지난 2005년 78.9세를 넘어섰고, 2030년에는 83.1세로 높아질 것으로 추산하고 있다(통계청, 2009).
This study was aimed to promote social welfare and health services of the elderly people through understanding their hearing status and investigating the needs for geriatric welfare program for the hearing impaired. The study was conducted using a structured questionnaire answered by 118 senior participants who were older than 60 and attending at the selected five welfare centers located in Seoul, Gyung-gi and Gang-won provinces. As a result, first, 55.1% answered that their physical condition is not satisfied and 89% reported they have one or more diseases. Out of those, 18.8% were suffering from hearing disorders, which is listed in the second most common disease following arthritis from which 19.2% were suffering. Second, due to hearing loss, 48.3% have experienced difficulties in daily life and 42.4% seeking professional help. The most difficult condition for them was to hear soft speeches and the most desirable service for help was hearing aid. Third, when the needs for rehabilitation services are subdivided, the most desirable rehabilitation service was physical therapy (56.8%) and aural rehabilitation service was followed (34.8%). Besides, 82.2% were interested in evaluating their hearing ability regularly at welfare center. Fourth, the majority of geriatric welfare center users strongly showed their needs for hearing aid services, aural rehabilitation services after hearing aids fitting, aural rehabilitation services, instruction for hearing conservation, and hearing conservation program. As stated below, the results can be concluded. Instruction of the hearing conservation for seniors who suffer from hearing loss should be activated. Moreover, social welfare services such as aural rehabilitation programs should be systematized to build various ability to cope with hearing loss because increase of the geriatric population will increase the elderly hearing impaired in the future.
INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSIONS CONCLUSIONS
