sensory impairments
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2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Eksteen ◽  
Robert H. Eikelboom ◽  
Hannah Kuper ◽  
Stefan Launer ◽  
De Wet Swanepoel

Abstract Background The majority of children with sensory impairments live in low- and middle-income countries. More studies of hearing and vision impairment prevalence are needed, in order to generate more accurate estimates of trends in sensory impairments. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and describe the characteristics of hearing and vision loss among preschool children (4–7 years) in an underserved South African community following community-based mobile health (mHealth) supported hearing and vision services. Methods A screening program of sensory impairments was undertaken of children attending preschools in the communities of Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town, from September 2017 until June 2019. Hearing and vision screening were done by trained community health workers using mHealth technology. Children who failed hearing and vision screening were seen for follow-up assessments at their preschools. Follow-up assessments were conducted using smartphones that host point-of-care validated and calibrated hearing and vision testing applications (hearTest app, hearX Group, South Africa and PeekAcuity app, Peek Vision, United Kingdom). Descriptive statistical analysis and logistic regression analysis were conducted after extracting data from a secure cloud-based server (mHealth Studio, hearX Group) to Microsoft Excel (2016). Results A total of 10,390 children were screened at 298 preschools over 22 months. Of the children screened, 5.6 and 4.4% of children failed hearing and vision screening respectively. Community-based follow-up hearing tests were done at the preschools on 88.5% (514) of children of whom 240 children (54.2% female) presented with hearing loss. A preschool-based follow-up vision test was done on 400 children (88.1%). A total of 232 children (46.1% female) had a vision impairment, and a further 32 children passed the test but had obvious signs of ocular morbidity. Logistic regression analysis found that age was a significant predictor of vision loss (p < 0.05), but not for hearing loss (p = 0.06). Gender was not a significant predictor of hearing (p = 0.22) or vision loss (p = 0.20). Conclusions Hearing loss is prevalent in at least 22 per 1000 and vision loss in at least 23 per 1000 preschool children in an underserved South African community. Timely identification of sensory losses can be facilitated through community-based hearing and vision services supported by mHealth technology.


2022 ◽  
pp. 1509-1522
Author(s):  
Prithi Venkatesh Mondreti ◽  
Malar G.

The background research leading to this chapter probed into the nature of disposition and dominant patterns of feelings displayed b typically developing siblings towards children with special needs arising out of communication disorders. The resultant findings may contribute of facilitation of constructive relationship between them. A survey type of research design was adopted for the purpose of collecting relevant data from primary caregivers of 34 children with communication disorders resulting from either sensory impairments, or neurodevelopmental disorders. An emotional-behavioral rating scale including 10 common dispositions of siblings towards children with special needs had been developed for the purpose following review of relevant literature. The caregiver-participants were to rate the frequency of manifestation of the emotions of behaviors described on a four-pointing rating scale of never, sometimes, often or always. Other relevant information like number of siblings, order of birth, gender of children with special needs, as well as educational and socio-economic status of the caregivers were collected. Analysis of the data revealed feelings of concern and care predominantly prevalent among siblings of children with special needs. Nevertheless, there is scope for further shaping the positive dispositions into constructive behaviors that support optimal development of children with special needs.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110591
Author(s):  
Bernard A. Steinman ◽  
Jennifer Tabler ◽  
Casandra M. Mittlieder ◽  
Bremen Whitlock ◽  
Carrie E. Goodman

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 438-438
Author(s):  
Yuri Agrawal ◽  
Jennifer Schrack ◽  
Alden Gross ◽  
Nicole Armstrong ◽  
Eleanor Simonsick ◽  
...  

Abstract 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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 791-791
Author(s):  
Carrie Karvonen-Gutierrez ◽  
Michelle Hood ◽  
Joshua Ehrlich ◽  
Richard Neitzel ◽  
Kelly Ylitalo

Abstract This study evaluated the relationship between individual and combined sensory impairments (vision, hearing, peripheral nerve (PN)) with recurrent falls in the past year among 1951 women (mean age 65.6 years) from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation. Sensory impairments were defined as self-reported vision difficulty, hearing loss, or ≥4 on the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument. Recurrent falls were defined as ≥2 self-reported falls. Hearing was the most commonly reported impairment (39.2%), followed by vision (22.1%) and PN (16.0%). Among those with any impairments, 7.0% of women reported impairments in all domains. Recurrent falls were more common among women with vision (19.4%), hearing (17.3%), or PN impairments (24.7%) as compared to women without sensory impairments (7.0%). The greatest burden of recurrent falls was among women with all three sensory impairments; one-third (34.6%) of women with vision, hearing and PN impairment were recurrent fallers. In an adjusted logistic regression model, vision, hearing, and PN impairments were associated with statistically significantly higher odds of recurrent falls in the past year (odds ratio (OR) = 1.58, 1.76, 2.11, respectively; all p&lt;0.01), after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, economic strain, and depressive symptoms. The presence of all three sensory impairments was associated with nearly 6-fold increased odds of recurrent falls (OR=5.65, 95% CI 3.25, 9.82) compared to women with no impairments. Sensory impairments often onset during mid-life and early late adulthood. This work demonstrates that these impairments are associated with falls and that women with impairments across multiple sensory domains are at greatest risk.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 86-86
Author(s):  
Esther Oh ◽  
Julie Yi ◽  
Corrine Pittman ◽  
Carrie Price ◽  
Carrie Nieman

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has become an important means of delivering memory care. Telehealth that is responsive to the technological abilities and preferences as well as the sensory needs of persons living with dementia is critical to advancing access to care. We conducted a systematic review to investigate the use of telehealth among older adults with cognitive impairment. The search yielded 3,551 titles and abstracts that led to 17 full-text articles. Studies showed that telehealth can be used for routine care, cognitive assessment and telerehabilitation with good efficacy and satisfaction. Three studies investigated telemedicine delivery in the home and 16/17 studies relied on support staff and care partners to navigate technology. No studies reported adaptations to account for sensory impairments and 5/17 studies excluded individuals with sensory impairments. This talk will review barriers and facilitators totelehealth for older adults with cognitive impairment and adaptations to address sensory needs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1016-1016
Author(s):  
Laura Wallace ◽  
Karen Hirschman ◽  
Mary Naylor ◽  
Liming Huang ◽  
Pamela Cacchione

Abstract Hearing, vision, and dual (combined hearing and vision) sensory impairments (HI, VI, and DSI) are common in older adults and associated with adverse health outcomes. However, it is not clear how sensory impairments impact healthcare utilization in older adults. This study aims to examine hospital, emergency department (ED), and home health care use amongst adults 65 and older diagnosed with HI, VI, and DSI in an urban academic health system. This secondary analysis (N=45,000) used a limited data subset of older adult primary care patients’ EHR data from a parent study examining medical complexity, healthcare use, and social vulnerability. Using logistic regression and controlling for participant demographics and comorbidities, results show HI, VI, and DSI increase the likelihood of having an ED visit (OR 1.29, p&lt;.0001; OR 1.28, p=0.0011; OR 1.50, p=.0328, respectively) and a home health episode (hearing OR 1.41, p&lt;.0001; vision OR 1.42, p=.0002) compared to those without sensory impairment (SI). No significant difference was found in hospital use and home health use for DSI. This is the first known study to examine ED use for older adults with VI and DSI, and home health use for older adults with SI in the US. Findings suggest older adults with SI have greater utilization and dependence on healthcare services. Older adults with SI may benefit from outpatient assessments and interventions to mitigate risks of ED use. Findings also support research into the drivers of healthcare use amongst this population, financial implications, and intervention development to prevent avoidable healthcare use.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 136-137
Author(s):  
Stacy Andersen ◽  
Sandra Rizer ◽  
Lance San Souci ◽  
Melissa Berlin ◽  
Emily Harris ◽  
...  

Abstract Extreme longevity is associated with resilience to Alzheimer’s disease. A major goal of centenarian studies is therefore to identify factors associated with maintaining cognitive function throughout life. Over the past year, two studies of centenarians and their offspring (age 60-110+ years) have pivoted from in-home assessments of cognitive and physical function to hybridized, Zoom-based assessments including comprehensive cognitive testing, blood pressure, grip strength, and accelerometry and biological sample collections. Protocols were optimized for accessibility for individuals with limited technology experience (e.g., investigator remotely controls all functions of the participant’s tablet) and sensory impairments (e.g., integration of wireless headphones) and include high-sensitivity data collection (e.g., sensor-based wearables and digital recording of cognitive test responses). Advantages of virtual administration included the ability to accommodate fatigue through multi-day assessment and to include geographically-isolated individuals. Disadvantages included participant burden due to equipment setup and inability to collect certain measures virtually (e.g., carotid ultrasounds).


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 443-443
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Garcia Morales ◽  
Nicholas Reed

Abstract Sensory impairments are common among older adults. Little is known on the association between sensory impairments, which impact labor productivity, and the effect modification of wealth. We used the 2006-2018 rounds of the Health and Retirement Study. Hearing (HI) and vision (VI) impairments (self-report) at baseline, and working status throughout the study period was observed. Logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics, were used to characterize the association of sensory impairment and early retirement (i.e., before age 65). Secondary analysis stratified by assets. Among 1,688 adults ages 53-64, 1,350 had no impairment, 140 had HI only, 141 VI only, and 57 had dual sensory impairment (DSI). Only adults with HI had higher odds of early retirement (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.6; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.0,2.5) relative to those without sensory impairment. Among those with large assets, those with HI had higher odds (OR:2.6, 95% CI: 1.4,5.2) and those with VI had lower odds (OR. 0.37; 95% CI: 0.2,0.8) of early retirement. Among the low asset group, we found no differences across impairment groups for the odds of retirement. In sample of older adults, we provide evidence that the presence of hearing impairment is associated early retirement. Secondary analyses suggest wealth may modify this association which highlights the wealth disparities faced by people with sensory impairments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 381-381
Author(s):  
Corinna Tanner ◽  
Avalon White ◽  
Stephanie Richardson ◽  
Melanie Hill ◽  
Shaylee Bench ◽  
...  

Abstract Research suggests that marital quality may buffer the impact of sensory impairments in later life, and that marital quality relates to cognitive functioning. This study explored how marital quality moderated links between sensory impairments and cognitive functioning. We used data from 723 paired marital dyads from two cohorts in the NHATS and NSOC studies across three-year periods (n=340 dyads from waves 1, 2, 3; n=383 dyads from waves 5, 6, 7). Growth curve models of executive functioning indicated that marital quality moderated effects of both hearing and vision impairment on changes in cognitive functioning longitudinally. Specifically, higher marital quality was associated with higher executive functioning across time. Results suggested no improvement in executive functioning among those with average or lower marital quality. Although cognition declines with advanced age and with sensory impairments, results suggest that older adults with higher marital quality may improve in some aspects of cognition longitudinally.


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