An Artificial Intelligence-Based Virtual Human Avatar Application to Assess the Mental Health of Health Care Professionals: A Validation Study.

Hearing loss (hypoacusis) is a reduction in hearing ability defined by an increase in the hearing threshold to at least 20 dB HL in the main speech range between 0.5 and 4 kHz (). The WHO estimates an overall prevalence of hearing loss of 20%, with a higher prevalence of 33% among those aged 65 and older (). Estimates for Germany range from 16.2% to 40.6%, with older age groups showing a higher prevalence (–). Assumed causes include unsafe listening practices (), ototoxic or viral exposure, chronic illness (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus, central obesity, otosclerosis), smoking, or sensorineural degeneration (). The primary symptom of age-related hearing loss is impaired communication due to a loss of speech comprehension, particularly in the presence of background noise. In older adults, hearing loss is a risk factor for mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders and, according to the World Health Organization, may account for up to 8% of dementia cases (). It also increases the risk of physical health conditions (risk of falls) and social consequences such as a low quality of life, social isolation, and loneliness (, ). In an observational prospective study on adults 50 years and older (), the average time with hearing loss until treatment was more than 10 years and correlated negatively with cognitive abilities. The consequences of age-related hearing loss can be mitigated through early diagnosis and treatment with hearing aids. To date, there is no systematic screening for hearing loss in the elderly population in most countries. In 2012, only 32 of 76 questioned countries worldwide reported they had implemented regulations or plans for ear and hearing care (). While no research comparing guidelines, regulations, and plans for screening for hearing loss in older adults exists, a systematic review from 2022 compares newborn and childhood hearing screening ().