The effect of hearing aids on postural stability. (24th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rumalla, Kavelin; Karim, Adham M.; Hullar, Timothy E.
• Is Part Of: Laryngoscope. Volume 125:Number 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 720
• Page End: 723
• Publication Date: 2014-10-24
• Subjects: Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51005
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.24974
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-852X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="lary24974-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives/Hypothesis</title> <p>In the United States, falls are the leading cause of accidental deaths in adults aged over 65 years. Epidemiologic studies indicate that there is a correlation between hearing loss and the risk of falling among older people. The vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual systems are known to contribute to postural stability, but the contribution of audition to maintaining balance has not yet been determined.</p> </sec> <sec id="lary24974-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Study Design</title> <p>Cross‐sectional study to measure postural stability in bilateral hearing‐aid users aged over 65 years in aided and unaided conditions.</p> </sec> <sec id="lary24974-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Balance was assessed using the Romberg on foam test and the tandem stance test. Tests were administered in the presence of a point‐source broadband white‐noise sound (0–4 kHz) source in both unaided and aided conditions in the dark. Subjective measures of balance were made using the Activities‐specific Balance Confidence Scale.</p> </sec> <sec id="lary24974-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Performance was significantly better in the aided than the unaided condition (<italic>P</italic> = 0.005 for both tests). No statistically significant relationship between improvement in balance, and hearing was identified. Participants did not report that they perceived a difference in balance between the two conditions.</p> </sec> <sec id="lary24974-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>These results indicate that hearing aids are a novel treatment modality for imbalance in older adults with hearing loss and suggest that wearing hearing aids may offer a significant public‐health benefit for avoiding falls in this population.</p> </sec> <sec id="lary24974-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Level of Evidence</title> <p>4. <italic>Laryngoscope</italic>, 125:720–723, 2015</p> </sec> </abstract>