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Dual sensory loss: A major age‐related increase of comorbid hearing loss and hearing aid ownership in visually impaired adults
Author(s) -
Vreeken Hilde L,
Rens Ger HMB,
Knol Dirk L,
Reijen Nadja A,
Kramer Sophia E,
Festen Joost M,
Nispen Ruth MA
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.12136
Subject(s) - medicine , hearing loss , audiology , rehabilitation , referral , hearing aid , sensory system , population , visual impairment , sensory loss , hearing impaired , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , psychiatry , family medicine , psychology , surgery , environmental health , cognitive psychology
Aim Despite increasing interest in visual and hearing impairment in the older population, little attention has been paid to concurrent hearing and vision loss, also known as dual sensory loss. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of comorbid hearing disability and hearing aid ownership in visually impaired older adults. Methods In a cross‐sectional survey, a self‐report hearing disability screener was administered to 1396 visually impaired patients (aged ≥50 years) of outpatient low vision rehabilitation centers in the N etherlands and B elgium. Results Of all participants, 44.8% (95% CI 42.2–47.5) had insufficient or poor hearing; the prevalence increased quadratically with age. Of all dual sensory impaired participants, 31.2% in the N etherlands and 55.7% in B elgium did not own hearing aids. Conclusions The high prevalence of dual sensory loss calls for more awareness of related problems in these patients. Differences between the N etherlands and B elgium regarding hearing aid ownership might be due to different criteria used for hearing aid referral and insurance policies. For patients with dual sensory loss, specialized care implemented in low vision rehabilitation seems warranted. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 570–576.