Vision and Hearing Loss in Older Adults: “Double Trouble”

2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paige Berry ◽  
John Mascia ◽  
Bernard A. Steinman
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sensory Loss ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
The People ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
Functional Implications ◽  
Dual Sensory Loss

Recent studies indicate that by age seventy, 21% of the people living in the United States have both vision and hearing loss. Dual sensory loss in the elderly has a significant effect on an individual’s ability to socialize, communicate with others, and live independently. This article addresses the issues faced by older individuals who are hard of hearing and blind or visually impaired. Common causes and behavioral signs of hearing and vision loss are discussed. An emphasis is placed on the functional implications of the dual sensory impairment and possible accommodations and communication strategies are outlined.

scholarly journals SCREENING FOR VISION AND HEARING LOSS IN OLDER ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA: A FEASIBILITY STUDY

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S120-S121
Author(s):  
Katherine McGilton ◽  
Fiona Höbler ◽  
Marilyn Reed ◽  
Tammy Labreche ◽  
M Kathleen Pichora-Fuller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Hearing Screening ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Sensory Loss ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Dual Sensory Loss

Abstract Sensory loss accounts for one of the most common chronic conditions among older adults, with hearing loss affecting half of adults aged over 65 years and vision loss almost one fifth of those aged 70 years and over. Together, dual sensory loss is found to be most prevalent in older adults with dementia. The highest prevalence is found in long-term care (LTC) settings. For this reason, we conducted a multi-stage study to identify the most effective vision and hearing screening tools for use with older adults living with dementia and to evaluate their feasibility of use by nurses working in LTC. We first conducted a comprehensive review of the literature, and supplemented this with an environmental scan of healthcare professionals and sensory specialists working with older adults who have dementia. Following this extensive review and consultative decision-making process, a package of vision and hearing screening tools was selected for use by nurses working in LTC. On-site training was provided by two experienced audiologists and optometrists, after which the feasibility of sensory screening by three nurses of 17 residents under their care was evaluated. We report on the six measures of hearing and seven measures of vision that were piloted for screening of older adults with dementia living in LTC, and on the findings for their feasibility of use by nurses working in this setting. Recommendations regarding the feasibility and reliability of screening for vision and hearing loss in older adults with dementia are discussed.

The Prevalence of Hearing, Vision, and Dual Sensory Loss in Older Canadians: An Analysis of Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Thomas Mick ◽  
Anni Hämäläinen ◽  
Lebo Kolisang ◽  
M. Kathleen Pichora-Fuller ◽  
Natalie Phillips ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Sensory Loss ◽  
Canadian Population ◽  
Dual Sensory Loss ◽  
Impairment Severity

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of hearing loss (HL), vision loss (VL), and dual sensory loss (DSL) in Canadians 45–85 years of age. Audiometry and visual acuity were measured. Various levels of impairment severity were described. Results were extrapolated to the 2016 Canadian population. In 2016, 1,500,000 Canadian males 45–85 years of age had at least mild HL, 1,800,000 had at least mild VL, and 570,000 had DSL. Among females, 1,200,000 had at least mild HL, 2,200,000 had at least mild VL, and 450,000 had DSL. Among Canadians 45–85 years of age, mild, moderate, and severe HL was prevalent among 13.4 per cent, 3.7 per cent, and 0.4 per cent of males, and among 11.3 per cent, 2.3 per cent, and 0.2 per cent of females, respectively. Mild and moderate, or severe VL was prevalent among 19.8 per cent and 2.4 per cent of males, and among 23.9 per cent and 2.6 per cent of females, respectively. At least mild DSL was prevalent among 6.4 per cent of males and 6.1 per cent of females.

Accommodating Dual Sensory Loss in Everyday Practice

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-16
Author(s):  
Katharina V. Echt ◽  
Gabrielle H. Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Older People ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Sensory Loss ◽  
Sensory Impairment ◽  
Health Care Settings ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist ◽  
Dual Sensory Loss ◽  
Dual Sensory Impairment

Dual sensory impairment is increasingly prevalent in people over age 65. The combination of vision loss and hearing loss impacts not only day-to-day function from the perspective of the patient, but must also be considered by the speech-language pathologist working with older people in health care settings. This article will discuss the implications of dual sensory impairment for both patients and professionals, and will provide strategies to support communication.

scholarly journals The prevalence of hearing and vision loss in older Canadians: An analysis of Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Mick ◽  
Anni Hämäläinen ◽  
Lebo Kolisang ◽  
M Kathleen Pichora-Fuller ◽  
Natalie Phillips ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Sensory Loss ◽  
Dual Sensory Loss

Objective: To describe the prevalence of hearing loss (HL), vision loss (VL) and dual sensory loss (DSL) in Canadians aged 45-85. Methods: Data from the first wave of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were used. Audiometry and visual acuity were measured. Prevalence proportions for 2012-2015 and counts for 2011 and 2016 were estimated.Results: In 2016, 1.5 million Canadian males aged 45-85 had HL, 1.8 million had VL, and 570,000 had DSL. Among females, 1.2 million had HL, 2.2 million had VL, and 450,000 had DSL. Prevalence counts increased 8.7-16.9% between 2011 and 2016. Prevalence proportions increased with age but decreased exponentially with severity of impairment. Males were more likely to have HL and DSL; VL was more common in females.Conclusion: HL, VL and DSL are highly prevalent among older Canadian adults.

scholarly journals Inequality in the context of economic globalization: the empirical sociological dimension

2020 ◽  
pp. 66-85
Author(s):  
Vitalina Butkaliuk
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Goods ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
Current System ◽  
Economic Globalization ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The United States ◽  
Modern World ◽  
The People ◽  
The Masses

The article is devoted to the study of the state and dynamics of socio-economic inequality in the modern world in the context of economic globalization. Based on the analysis of foreign and domestic literature, as well as large statistical and sociological information, the author argues that the implementation of neoliberal reforms has become a key factor in increasing inequality both globally and within individual countries, regardless of their level of development. The author pays special attention to public opinion research in the US and Ukraine on social inequality, social justice and the distribution of public goods. By showing that in both the most developed capitalist country, the United States, and in the "transitional" post-Soviet Ukraine, the majority of the population critically evaluates existing systems of distribution of public goods and advocates the transition to more egalitarian models of social development. In the United States, the most critical to the system of distribution of public goods in the country are such groups as the youth, the poorest segment of the people, the sympathizers of the Democratic Party and the liberals. With regard to Ukrainians, was found the connection between assessing the fairness of the current system and age, education, region of residence, and the level of respondents' income. Most critically, it is estimated by the elderly, the respondents with the lowest levels of education, the residents of the South of country and the people with the lowest income. The rise of inequality and, as a consequence, the conflict and tensions in the world, the radicalization and aggravation of the political situation are the key features of the modern neoliberal order. The inability to increase wealth for the majority of the population amid growing wealth of the richest and increasing concentration of wealth may lead to increased discontent among the masses and cause many social upheavals. The inability to increase wealth for the majority of the population amid growing wealth of the richest and increasing concentration of wealth would lead to increased discontent among the masses and cause many social upheavals.

The Helen Keller Question Applied to Workplace Discrimination: Hearing Loss vs. Visual Loss

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-221
Author(s):  
Brian T. McMahon ◽  
Mykal J. Leslie ◽  
Grace W. Li ◽  
Phillip D. Rumrill ◽  
Paige E. Simpson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Visual Loss ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Workplace Discrimination ◽  
Sensory Loss ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Sensory Impairments ◽  
Ex Post Facto ◽  
Quantitative Design

BackgroundIn exploring the matter of sensory loss and job discrimination, the National EEOC ADA Research Project (NEARP) seeks to answer a singular question.ObjectiveHow do persons with hearing loss (HL) vs. visual loss (VL) experience the nature and scope of workplace discrimination differently, if at all?MethodsThe NEARP team uses an ex post facto, causal comparative quantitative design that includes descriptive and inferential, nonparametric statistics. Closed EEOC files involving ADA allegations of workplace discrimination filed by Americans with Hearing Loss (HL, N = 21,847) and Vision Loss (VL, N = 16,136) were compared in terms of demographics, issues, and investigatory outcomes.ResultsHL and VL groups show Demographic differences to one another and to population statistics of sensory impairment in the areas of Gender and Race/Ethnicity. Regarding Issues, HL and VL groups are different from one another with respect to several prevalent matters (i.e., Discharge, Reasonable Accommodation) and small-scale matters (i.e., Hiring and Terms/Conditions). With respect to the Merit of allegations following EEOC investigation, HL and VL are very similar.ConclusionWorkplace discrimination is experienced differently for Charging Parties who experience HL vs. VL. Moreover, important differences exist Charging Parties from both sensory impairments vs. those from a General Disability Population.

scholarly journals Utility and limitations of Google searches on sensory loss as markers for new COVID-19 cases

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Asseo ◽  
Fabrizio Fierro ◽  
Yuli Slavutsky ◽  
Johannes Frasnelli ◽  
Masha Y Niv
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
The United States ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
World Health ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Sensory Loss ◽  
Taste And Smell ◽  
Smell Loss

AbstractEvidence of smell loss in COVID-19 is growing. Researchers and analysts have suggested to use Google searches on smell loss as indicators of COVID-19 cases. However, such searches may be due to interest elicited by media coverage of the COVID-19-related smell loss, rather than attempts to understand self-symptoms. We analyzed searches related to 4 senses: smell and taste (both recently shown to be impaired in some COVID-19 patients), vision and sight (senses not currently known to be impaired in COVID-19 patients), and an additional general control (“COVID-19 symptoms”). Focusing on two countries with a large number of cases, Italy and the United States, we have compared Google Trends results per region or state to the number of new cases prevalence in that region. The analysis was performed for each of the 8 weeks ranging from March 4th till April 28th.No correlation with vision loss or sight loss searches was identified, while taste and smell loss searches were correlated with new COVID-19 cases during a limited time window, that starts when the number of weekly new cases reached for the first time 21357 cases in Italy (11-17 March) and 47553 in the US (18-24 March).Media effect on the specific symptoms searches was also analyzed, establishing a different impact according to the country.Our results suggest that Google Trends for taste loss and smell loss searches captured a genuine connection between these symptoms and new COVID-19 cases prevalence in the population. However, due to variability in correlation from week to week, and overall decrease in correlation as taste and smell loss are becoming known COVID-19 symptoms, recognized now by CDC and World Health Organization, Google Trends is no longer a reliable marker for monitoring the disease spread. The “surprise rise” followed by decrease, probably attributable to knowledge saturation, should be kept in mind for future digital media analyses of potential new symptoms of COVID-19 or future pandemics.

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