Sensory Loss in China: Prevalence, Use of Aids, and Impacts on Social Participation

Abstract

The number of older adults with vision and/or hearing loss is growing world-wide, including in China, whose population is aging rapidly. Sensory loss impacts on older people's ability to participate in their communities and their quality of life. This study investigates the prevalence of vision loss, hearing loss, and dual sensory loss (combined vision and hearing loss) in an older adult Chinese population and describes the relationships between these sensory losses and demographic factors, use of glasses and hearing aids, unmet needs, and impacts on social participation. The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study is a population-based longitudinal survey conducted since 2011. The 2013 dataset for people aged 60 and over was used in this study. Items analyzed included demographic data (age, gender, education, rurality, and SES), self-reported ratings of vision (including legally blind, excellent-poor long, and short distance vision and the use and frequency of wearing glasses), hearing (excellent-poor hearing and the use of hearing aids), dual sensory loss (both poor/fair vision and hearing), and social participation. Of the sample, 80.2% reported poor/fair vision, 64.9% reported poor/fair hearing, and 57.2% had poor/fair vision and hearing. Few respondents (10%) wore glasses regularly and 20.1% wore glasses from time to time. Only 0.8% of respondents wore hearing aids although the proportion with hearing loss was high (64.9%). The proportion of unmet needs for glasses and hearing aids was 54.9 and 63.9%, respectively. Low socio-economic status (SES), poor education, and rurality were significantly associated with the prevalence of poor/fair vision and hearing, the use of glasses and hearing aids and the unmet needs of glasses/hearing aids. Poor/fair vision and/or hearing, and the unmet needs for glasses/hearing aids were significantly and negatively associated with social participation. Sensory loss is a significant health issue for older Chinese people that impacts on their social participation. Training primary care health professionals in identification and rehabilitation approaches is needed as well as increasing the numbers of vision and hearing specialists working in the field. Providing information on sensory loss and the use of aids to older adults will also help improve older adult's quality of life.

Association of Sensory Impairments With Cognitive Decline and Depression Among Older Adults in China

“…In agreement with prior research, our results revealed that more women were living with sensory impairments than men. 13,36 Social and cultural differences may expose women to a greater risk of illnesses, while social, cultural, and economic differences may reduce access to services for women. 37 Cognition is a complex system that involves multiple domains related to episodic memory, executive function, mental intactness, and working memory.…”

Prevalence and risk factors of dual sensory impairment among community‐dwelling older adults in Selangor: A secondary data analysis

“…22 This was in contrast with a study that revealed a high prevalence of self-reported dual sensory loss of 57.2% in China. 17 The discrepancy presented in prevalence between studies might be attributed to the difference in assessment method, the criterion for DSI, and sample age groups, thus making it difficult to make a fair comparison.…”

“…14 Population studies have estimated that approximately 6%-57% of older adults have DSI. [15][16][17] To date, no prevalence data on DSI are available for Malaysia, and the risk factor is less well understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to measure the prevalence of DSI, as well as visual and hearing impairment among community-dwelling older adults in Selangor, and identify possible risk factors.…”

Older Women in Australia: Facing the Challenges of Dual Sensory Loss

“…In the current literature, vision loss and hearing loss have been defined either by passing specific thresholds in medical examinations/testing, for example, Kuang et al [43] or subjectively using self-reported poor/fair vision and/or hearing capacities, for example, Yu et al [44]. By following the definition of sensory loss used in previous studies [11,29], in this study, we only used questions relating to self-reported poor/fair vision and hearing to define sensory loss. The two questions relating to self-reported vision capacity included: (1) Do you currently use glasses or contact lenses?…”

“…DSL is a debilitating condition that interferes with communication [27,28], particularly since non-verbal cues such as lipreading are not visible. DSL also inhibits independence, limits one's activities, restricts participation in society and influences well-being [29][30][31][32]. In a systematic review conducted by Heine and Browning [33], it was found that a range of comorbidities (such as depression and decreased independence) are associated with DSL in older adults.…”