Association between hearing impairment and depressive symptomatology in hispanic/Latino adults: Results from the hispanic community health study/study of latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Introduction: There is evidence that hearing impairment (HI) is associated with depression in ethnically diverse groups. The objective of this study was to determine if Hispanics with HI and reduced hearing-related quality of life (QOL) have more depressive symptoms than Hispanics without HI. Methods: We examined HI and depression in Hispanic adults aged 18+ (N=16,415) from the HCHS/SOL. Pure Tone Average (PTA; based on thresholds at 0.5,1,2,4 kHz) for the better ear was computed from audiometric data, with higher scores indicating greater HI. Hearing-related QOL was measured by the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), and depression was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10. Generalized linear models stratified by gender, with adjustments for covariates (age, Hispanic background, income, cigarette use, doctor's visit in the past 12 months) and survey design, were performed using the PTA and self-reported measures as predictors of depression. Results: There was no association between PTA level and depression; however, in models that included the HHIE/HHIA instead of PTA, there was a significant association with depression in both men (b=0.15, standard error[SE]=0.01; p<0.001) and women (b=0.20, SE=0.01; p<0.001). In post-hoc analyses cross-classifying participants on the basis of HI severity using both measures, associations with depression were stronger for categories of increasing HHIE/HHIA impairment severity relative to PTA-derived impairment severity. Discussion: Hearing-related QOL was more strongly associated with depression than hearing impairment. Audiologists who treat Hispanics with HI should be aware of its potential psychosocial effects.