Hearing Impairment as a Determinant of Function in the Elderly

Abstract

This clinical, practice-based study explores the research question: Is there a relationship between hearing loss and functional disturbance in elderly patients? We analyzed the impact of hearing impairment on 153 patients over 65 years of age screened in primary care practice. Functional and psychosocial impairment were measured using the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), a standardized measure for assessing sickness related dysfunction. Hearing level was determined with pure tone audiometry. Multiple linear regression was used to adjust for patient case-mix differences and other clinical variables. After adjustment, a 10 dB increase in hearing loss was found to result in a 2.8 point increase in Physical SIP scores (95% confidence interval = 1.8-3.8), a 2.0 point increase in psychosocial SIP scores (95% confidence interval = 0.8-3.2) and a 1.3 point increase in overall SIP scores (95% confidence interval = 0.1-2.5). Poor hearing was associated with higher SIP scores and increased dysfunction. Thus, hearing impairment is an important determinant of function in the elderly.

Longitudinal associations between dual sensory impairment and everyday competence among older adults

“…Several studies have reported that older adults who are hearing impaired have greater functional disability when compared with their nonimpaired peers [10,12,15,18,[26][27][28]. However, this relationship does not appear to be as strong when compared with the relationship between visual impairment and ADL/IADL disability [25,[29][30].…”

Visual Acuity, Contrast Sensitivity, and Mortality in Older Women: Study of Osteoporotic Fractures

“…Impaired vision increases the risk of falls, hip fractures, 2-8 and decline in functional status. [9][10][11][12][13] Although previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between sensory impairment and quality of life, they conflict on its relationship with mortality.14-24 Cross-sectional design, small study sample, self-reported visual impairment, and limited adjustment for the independent influence of other chronic medical conditions have limited prior studies.It was hypothesized that any association between visual impairment and all-cause mortality is likely a consequence of other comorbidities related to vision and mortality. It was also hypothesized that, after adjustment for these medical conditions, visual impairment would not be related to total mortality.…”

“…Impaired vision increases the risk of falls, hip fractures, 2-8 and decline in functional status. [9][10][11][12][13] Although previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between sensory impairment and quality of life, they conflict on its relationship with mortality.…”

“…Impaired vision increases the risk of falls, hip fractures, [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] and decline in functional status. [9][10][11][12][13] Although previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between sensory impairment and quality of life, they conflict on its relationship with mortality. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Cross-sectional design, small study sample, self-reported visual impairment, and limited adjustment for the independent influence of other chronic medical conditions have limited prior studies.…”

Amplification and the Geriatric Patient

“…Uncorrected hearing loss leads to reduction of functional, psychological, and psychosocial well-being (9)(10)(11). Studies by Mulrow and colleagues (12) as well as Weinstein and Ventry (13) have found that even a mild to moderate hearing loss has a considerable effect on social and emotional handicaps (12,13).…”