Exploring older adults hearing and vision and driving – The Swedish study

Abstract

Aim: The aims of this study were to evaluate self-reported driving abilities and self-reported use of visual and hearing aids for driving, among older adults with varying degrees of Hearing Impairment (HI), Vision Impairment (VIA measure of visual processing related to driving performance was also assessed. The following research questions were examined: How are self-reported and clinically measured declines in sensory and cognitive skills associated with: Each other, Level of comfort in various driving situations, and Use of hearing and vision aids when driving. Method: Participants included 109 older adults (58 women, 51 men) aged over 60 years (Mage = 69.5 years (SD=5.25), age range: 60-87) holding a valid driver's license. Tests of vision, hearing and visual processing were performed to collect objective data. All participants filled in a questionnaire covering subjective measures of vision, hearing, driving habits, and use of vision and hearing aids. Correlations were made to examine the relations between objective and subjective measures. Results and conclusion: The correlation between subjective and objective measures of both hearing and vision, indicates that participants in this study were aware of their abilities. A better hearing and vision (as clinically measured), were associated with a higher level of comfort in several traffic situations. The results also show that spectacles are used more than hearing aids when driving, in this study 95% versus 57% of the time. Both the joy of driving and the perceived driving quality was significantly correlated to hearing and vision, such that better ability led to greater pleasure in driving and higher ratings of driving quality.

Improving Older Drivers’ Behaviors Using Theory of Planned Behavior

“…In the process of real driving, the decline in older drivers' physical strength and endurance lead to greater fatigue [6]. The weakening of vision and hearing make it difficult for them to obtain traffic information quickly in complex driving environments [7]. The weakening of memory and cognitive ability cause a decline in the ability to process information, and it increases the driving risk of older drivers [8].…”

Driving, Residential Location, and Employment Outcomes Among Older Adults

“…Further, more recent cohorts of older adults are less likely to limit and to stop driving than older cohorts, suggesting that older adults’ automobile dependence has become even stronger in recent years (Schouten et al, 2022). Nonetheless, as they age, older adults often experience increased challenges that hinder their mobility, including their ability to drive (Dawson et al, 2010; Freund et al, 2005; Thorslund et al, 2019). Rates of driving are thus somewhat lower among older adults.…”