Audiologists should not fail with falls: A call to commit to prevention of falls in older adults

Rogers, Christine

doi:10.4102/sajcd.v68i1.841

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…As it has been clearly established in the past, audiologists are important professionals in the prevention of risk of falls 14,15 . Indeed, they closely work with population at high risks of falls, and also have the knowledge (auditory and vestibular) to identify, quantify and manage risk of falls.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Since such bone vibrators are widely available in a clinical audiology context (B-71), this method could therefore be of interest towards screening for risk of falls. This is particularly true since it has been shown that the prevalence of falls in an audiology clinic is higher than in the normal population (Criter et al 14 ; Rogers 15 ). However, to date, limitations prevent the generalization of the results of Bergin et al 12 .…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vibration Thresholds Using Conventional Audiometry are Clinically Useful Indicators of Postural Instability in Older Adults

Pierre

Cedras²,

Bacon

et al. 2023

J Am Acad Audiol

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Background. Falls are a major health concern with potentially dramatic consequences for people over 65 years of age. One crucial determinant in the risk of falls in older adults is postural control, a complex process that requires the contribution of different sensory modalities, namely visual, vestibular, auditory, and somatosensory. While there are well established methods to screen for age-related vision, hearing, tactile and vestibular impairments, there are very few widely available methods to screen for somatosensory function, but studies indicate that ankle audiometry (vibration thresholds) using a common B-71 bone vibrator can serve that purpose. To date, unfortunately, this technique has received little attention as a tool to measure postural instability in older adults. Purpose. The objective of the present study was to examine postural control in older adults with and without degradation of the somatosensory functions, as determined with ankle audiometry. Research design. Standard group comparison. Study sample. 36 healthy elderly aged between 65-80 years old divided in two groups (low vibration threshold (n=18) and high vibration threshold (n=18). Data collection and analysis. Standard audiometry, video head impulse test, vibration thresholds (big toe, ankle and tibia) and static postural control task using a force platform was performed. Results. Greater postural instability in participants with higher (worse) vibration thresholds as compared to participants with lower (better) vibration thresholds was observed even though both groups were comparable on hearing threshold and vestibular function. Conclusion. The results indicate that performing a simple vibration threshold evaluation, using a clinically available B-71 with a cut-off value of 42 dB HL could be an effective, fast and easy to use procedure for detecting people at risk of falls.

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Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vibration Thresholds Using Conventional Audiometry are Clinically Useful Indicators of Postural Instability in Older Adults

Pierre

Cedras²,

Bacon

et al. 2023

J Am Acad Audiol

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“…Additionally, age-related hearing loss has been associated with declines in the vestibular sense, which plays a crucial role in balance [23]. Furthermore, slower gait speed, social isolation, and cognitive decline, which are correlated with hearing impairment in older adults, have been identified as additional factors relevant to an increased fall risk [3]. Understanding the impact of hearing loss on balance is crucial for physical therapists in developing effective interventions to mitigate the risk of falls in the elderly.…”

Section: Relationship Between Hearing Loss and Balance: Incidence Of ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2. Slower gait speed, social isolation, and cognitive decline, which are correlated with hearing impairment in older adults [3]. 3.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Slower gait speed, social isolation, and cognitive decline, which are correlated with hearing impairment in older adults [3]. 3. The potential for hearing to provide essential information to the central nervous system for maintaining balance [18] Like falls, hearing loss is also very common in individuals older than 60 years, with prevalence estimated between 33 and 40% in this population [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hearing Loss in the Elderly: Implications for Balance and Fall Risk

Polavarapu,

Kanchi

2024

Int J Health Sci Res

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Hearing loss is a prevalent sensory impairment that affects a significant population, particularly in the elderly. It has been identified as one of the most common chronic conditions among older adults, with profound implications for their physical and psychological well-being. Presbycusis, another name for age-related hearing loss, is a degenerative disorder that is frequently linked to normal aging. As the population continues to age, understanding the impact of hearing loss on various aspects of health becomes increasingly important. In recent years, research has shed light on the connection between hearing loss and balance problems, as well as an increased risk of falls among the elderly population. Falls present a significant public health concern, contributing to substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Identifying and addressing factors that contribute to fall risk are critical for improving the quality of life and reducing the burden on healthcare systems. This review aims to explore the implications of hearing loss for balance and fall risk from a physical therapy perspective. It examines the evidence linking hearing loss to balance disturbances and analyze the underlying mechanisms involved. Additionally, the review discusses the role of physical therapy interventions in mitigating fall risk and enhancing balance in older adults with hearing loss. Key words: Hearing Loss, Elderly, Older Adults, Balance, Fall Risk

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Cultural adaptation and Sepedi translation of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale

Prinsloo,

Joubert

2024

South African Journal of Communication Disorders

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Background: The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale is a widely used measure to identify older adults with balance difficulties. However, its applicability in the diverse South African context is hindered by cross-cultural and linguistic differences. Limited research exists on the use of the ABC scale in native South African languages.Objectives: This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the ABC scale into Sepedi, evaluate its reliability and determine self-perceived balance confidence among elderly individuals in a rural community.Method: The ABC scale was translated and culturally adapted into Sepedi. Two trained raters administered the Sepedi version of the ABC (ABC-S) scale to 32 individuals aged between 60 and 88 years. Test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability were determined, with one rater re-administering the scale 2 weeks later.Results: Ten items from the original ABC scale were modified because of cultural, semantic or contextual inappropriateness. The ABC-S scale demonstrated very good intra- and inter-rater reproducibility, with an average intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.85 and 0.81, respectively. The self-perceived balance confidence among elderly Sepedi individuals, as evaluated by the ABC-S scale, was high, with an average score of 81.3 and a range of 58.1 to 95.9.Conclusion: The ABC-S scale is a reliable measurement tool to investigate balance confidence in Sepedi-speaking older adults.Contribution: The ABC-S scale is a valuable screening tool for the identification of balance difficulties in Sepedi-speaking older adults as well as research settings.

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Audiologists should not fail with falls: A call to commit to prevention of falls in older adults

Cited by 3 publications

References 48 publications

Vibration Thresholds Using Conventional Audiometry are Clinically Useful Indicators of Postural Instability in Older Adults

Vibration Thresholds Using Conventional Audiometry are Clinically Useful Indicators of Postural Instability in Older Adults

Hearing Loss in the Elderly: Implications for Balance and Fall Risk

Cultural adaptation and Sepedi translation of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale

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