Prevalence of Individuals with Deafblindness and Age-Related Dual-Sensory Loss

Introduction The authors of this paper have compiled a report on the prevalence of deafblindness and dual-sensory loss based on the review of existing estimates. The purpose is to inform readers of the importance of using consistent, well-researched definitions and survey questions in future prevalence studies. Methods Articles were extracted through ProQuest and EBSCOhost, online library databases of Cambrian College and Laurentian University. Keywords search included “deafblindness,” “dual-sensory impairment,” “dual-sensory loss,” “age-related,” “congenital,” “acquired,” and “prevalence.” Additionally, the authors conducted a search with Google for research reports and Google Scholar for other relevant peer-reviewed articles. Results This review provides a current overview of prevalence estimates of deafblindness and age-related dual-sensory loss around the world, examining 19 articles or reports published over the last 20 years (2000–2020) in 18 countries, including the European Union (consisting of 8 countries). In line with the prevalence estimates by the World Federation for the Deafblind global report 2018, the review indicates an estimated 0.2–2% prevalence of dual-sensory impairment and underscores varying ranges of prevalence among populations, studies or countries, age groups, and types of deafblindness. The review highlights that the prevalence of deafblindness or dual-sensory loss was often not comparable across studies, but it is clear that the prevalence of dual-sensory impairment increases with age. The studies varied in methods (e.g., population surveys, cross-sectional, and longitudinal studies). Implication for practitioners The review provides evidence of varying ranges of prevalence rates. Future prevalence studies may benefit from consistent definitions, standard data-collection tools to do better comparisons across countries, and identify factors that predict higher or lower prevalence rates among populations and age groups.

Predicament of Disability, Old Age, and Extreme

The study of poverty explores the experiences of elderly people and people living with disabilities pertaining to the five broad categories of disability, namely physical disability, blindness, deafness, and mental illness, including perceived barriers and remedies. Disability whether physical infirmity, disease, or sensory impairment or perhaps later in life, by the onset of illness or frailty due to aging, is conceptualized as a restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in a ‘normal' or expected manner. By focusing on the African extended family's context and the living conditions among people with and without disabilities, this discussion informs policy everywhere to combat poverty and social exclusion and discrimination, take lifecycle approach to individual needs, eliminate poverty among the elderly and in people living with disabilities, and ensure access to social protections and community participation.

Self-Reported Sensory Impairments in Older Adults and their Association with Self-Rated Health and Mortality Outcomes

Objectives This study assessed the relationship between self-reported impairments of vision, hearing, and dual sensory impairment, and change in self-rated health/mortality status over a 5-year period. Methods Data came from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative survey of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older. Analyses consisted of a series of ordinal logistic regressions stratified by sex. Results For both women and men, self-reported sensory impairments were not statistical predictors of self-rated health/mortality, when other dimensions of health, such as physical functioning, participation, and activities of daily living functioning were included in models. Discussion Understanding how self-reported sensory impairments impact self-rated health could assist in targeting rehabilitation strategies to older adults who experience sensory impairments.

There is More Than Meets the Eye: Identification of Dual Molecular Diagnosis in Patients Affected by Hearing Loss

Hearing loss (HL) is the most common sensory impairment, and it is characterized by a high clinical/genetic heterogeneity. Here we report the identification of dual molecular diagnoses (i.e., mutations at two loci that lead to the expression of two Mendelian conditions) in a series of families affected by non-syndromic and syndromic HL. Eighty-two patients who displayed HL as a major clinical feature have been recruited during the last year. After an accurate clinical evaluation, individuals have been analyzed through whole-exome sequencing (WES). This protocol led to the identification of seven families characterized by the presence of a dual diagnosis. In particular, based on the clinical and genetic findings, patients have been classified into two groups: a) patients with HL and distinct phenotypes not fitting in a known syndrome due to mutations at two loci (e.g., HL in association with Marfan syndrome) and b) patients with two genes involved in HL phenotype (e.g., TMPRSS3 and MYH14). These data highlight for the first time the high prevalence of dual molecular diagnoses in HL patients and suggest that they should be considered especially for those cases that depart from the expected clinical manifestation or those characterized by a significant intra-familiar variability.

Mental Health and Well-Being Among Individuals With a Sensory Loss During COVID-19 Lockdown Measures

Hearing and vision impairment are highly prevalent chronic conditions and are associated with poorer mental health and well-being. Mental health problems may be exacerbated by COVID-19-related lockdown measures and limitations of in-person contacts may affect those with sensory impairments more severely. We aimed to determine whether hearing and/or visual impairment were associated with worse mental health and psychological well-being during lockdown measures in Spring/Summer 2020 in Wisconsin. We included 1341 (64% women, aged 20-92 years) Survey of the Health of Wisconsin participants of a COVID-19 survey (May-June, 2020). We assessed self-reported current mental health and psychological well-being and vision and hearing impairment. Logistic regression models with vision and hearing impairments as determinants and multiple mental health and well-being outcomes were used and adjusted for age, gender, race, education, heart disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. In preliminary analyses, we found associations of vision impairment with increased odds of generalized anxiety disorder (odds ratio=2.10; 95% confidence interval=1.32-3.29) and depression (2.57; 1.58-4.11). Individuals with a vision impairment were more likely to be taking medication for depression (1.75; 1.13-2.68), report being lonely (1.65; 1.00-2.64) and report hopelessness (1.45; 1.01-2.08). Individuals with a hearing impairment were more likely to be taking depression medications (1.72; 1.07-2.73) and to report being lonely (1.80; 1.05-2.98). Sensory impairment was not associated with stress levels or sense of purpose in life. Individuals with sensory impairment may represent a particularly vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should determine underlying reasons and interventions to mitigate this populations’ disadvantages.

Joseph T. Freeman Award: Creating Synergy in Interdisciplinary Aging Research and Practice

Over 30 years of interdisciplinary practice stimulated many research questions. Early intervention research in sensory impairment, specifically vision and/or hearing impairment was heavily supported by interdisciplinary colleagues from Geriatric Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry and Audiology. Challenges and opportunities from this research created a growing interest in developing and designing technologies for older adults. Creating the need for partnerships with engineering. My expertise in aging and access to willing research participants made me an ideal research partner. Effectively expanding my focus beyond sensory impairment interventions to designing and testing robots with older adults. Currently we are testing low cost mobile robots in acute care and the community and are developing and testing a soft robot to assist persons out of a chair as well as turn and lift persons up in bed. The synergy of interdisciplinary practice and research is helping us innovate to improve the lives of older adults.

Sensory Impairment and Algorithmic Classification of Early Cognitive Impairment in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Sensory function has been linked to cognitive impairment and dementia, but the link between multiple sensory impairments and early cognitive impairment (ECI) is unclear. Sensory function (vision, hearing, vestibular, proprioception, and olfaction) was measured in 390 BLSA participants (age=75±8 years; 57% women; 69% white) from 2012 to 2018 over a mean 3.6 years. ECI was defined based on 1 standard deviation below age-and race-specific means in Card Rotations or California Verbal Learning Test immediate recall. Cox proportional hazard models examined the risk of ECI for each sensory impairment and across categories of impairments. Vision impairment (vs. no vision impairment) was associated with a 70% greater risk of ECI (HR=1.70, p=0.05). Participants with 1 or ≥2 sensory impairments had triple the risk of ECI (HR=3.74 and 3.44, p=0.008 and 0.02, respectively) compared to those without impairment. Future studies are needed to examine whether treatment for sensory impairments can modify these risks.