About Hearing Frail
What is Hearing Frailty®?
A. Hearing Frailty® refers to a weakness of the ear (deterioration of the ability to hear).
The term “hearing frail” refers to a physical deterioration (frail) caused by a decline in hearing function, which means hearing loss, and also includes the fact that hearing loss causes a significant change in one’s interactions with those around them, leading to frailty or a tendency toward frailty.
There is concern that if those around them are unaware of hearing loss and this condition is left unchecked, as with other frail conditions, the decline in mental and physical vitality will progress, increasing the risk of dementia and depression.
This new concept was presented by Dr. Shinichiro Nakaishi, Director of the Hearing Brain Science Institute, in cooperation with Dr. Hiroko Akiyama, Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo and Director of the Center for the Creation of a Society for the Elderly, in order to communicate clearly the possibility that a decline in auditory function may lead to an underestimation of dementia diagnosis results.
Toshima Ward, Tokyo, Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture, and Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, have launched a project for early detection of hearing loss and prevention of hearing frailty, and are collaborating with the Frailty Prevention Center, the Care Prevention Center, and the Community Comprehensive Support Center to provide elderly people aged 65 and over with a “Minna no Hearing Brain Power Check” for hearing The screening is conducted at the initiative of the local government.
This “Minnano Hearing Brain Power Check” (simple speech intelligibility screening using an application, created by Shinichi Nakashiishi) is also introduced on the website of the Japanese Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
Hearing Frail is also introduced on the website of the Japan Association of Clinical Otolaryngologists as “Hearing Loss Measures and Hearing Frail.
Government Initiatives for Hearing Frail
Toshima Ward, Tokyo: Case Study “Hearing Frail Check: Toshima Ward Model
Since July 1, 2021, Toshima Ward has been offering a free hearing frailty check for seniors aged 65 and older who live or work in the ward, using the “Hearing Frailty Check for Everyone” application.
Hearing frail means frailty of the ear (decline in the ability to hear). Currently, the check is conducted at the Higashi Ikebukuro Frail Prevention Center and the Takata Center for Care and Prevention, but from September 8, the scope of the check will be expanded to include the Kumin Hiroba (ward residents’ plaza) in order to allow more ward residents to take advantage of this service.
In addition, in cooperation with the Toshima Ward Medical Association, we will guide those with a speech sound audibility of less than 60% as a result of the application to an otolaryngologist.
[Adapted from an article on Toshima Ward’s website. For more information, please refer to the link below].
Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture Case Study “Hearing Frail Check: Toyonaka City Model
Toyonaka City started the “Hearing Frail Check” event for hearing frailty prevention in October 2022.
Concerned about the possibility that people’s hearing may be gradually declining but left unchecked as a result of the Corona Disaster, which has discouraged them from receiving medical examinations and checkups. In an effort to detect declining hearing function at an early stage and prevent hearing frailty through regular checkups, we have started promoting the use of the “Everyone’s Hearing Brain Power Check” application to smartphone and tablet owners, as well as checkups at each care prevention center in the city (reservations required).
[Toyonaka City press release. For details, please refer to the link below].
Hearing Frail Check initiative by Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Toyonaka City and the Universal Sound Design Institute for Hearing and Brain Sciences have signed an agreement with Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture, to promote measures to prevent dementia and hearing loss.
Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture: “Yamagata City Hearing Project“
Yamagata City will start the “Yamagata City Hearing Kukkiri Project” in December 2022.
The project is a collaboration of medical, industrial, academic, and government organizations, including the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata City Medical Association, Yamagata Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Japan Hearing Aid Dealers Association, and Universal Sound Design, Inc. Follow-up by hearing aid consultants and certified hearing aid specialists, and data analysis will be packaged and implemented.
[Quoted from Yamagata City’s website. For details, please refer to the link below].
