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Multicenter Study
. 2014 May;62(5):850-6.
doi: 10.1111/jgs.12800. Epub 2014 Apr 29.

Association between hearing impairment and self-reported difficulty in physical functioning

David S Chen  1 , Dane J Genther, Joshua Betz, Frank R Lin
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Association between hearing impairment and self-reported difficulty in physical functioning

David S Chen et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014 May.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether hearing impairment, defined by using objective audiometry, is associated with multiple categories of self-reported physical functioning in a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample of older adults.

Design: Multivariate secondary analysis of cross-sectional data.

Setting: The 2005-06 and 2009-10 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Participants: Adults aged 70 and older who completed audiometric testing (N = 1,669).

Measurements: Hearing was measured using pure-tone audiometry. Physical functioning was assessed using a structured interview.

Results: In a model adjusted for age and demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, greater hearing impairment (per 25 dB hearing level (HL)) was associated with greater odds of physical disability in activities of daily living (odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-1.9), instrumental activities of daily living (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2-2.2), leisure and social activities (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1-2.0), lower extremity mobility (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.7), general physical activities (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1-1.6), work limitation (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0-1.9), walking limitation (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.3-2.0), and limitation due to memory or confusion (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.8). Hearing impairment was not associated with limitations in amount or type of work done (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0-1.6).

Conclusion: Hearing impairment in older adults is independently associated with greater disability and limitations in multiple self-reported categories of physical functioning.

Keywords: hearing impairment; older adults; physical functioning.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Dr. Lin is a consultant to Cochlear, Autifony, and Pfizer.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Adjusted odds ratios (adjusted for age, sex, race, education, income, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and smoking status) of disabilities and functional limitations per 25-dB difference in hearing level (hearing defined according to the speech-frequency pure tone average of hearing thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz in the better ear). Error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Lin FR, Niparko JK, Ferrucci L. Hearing impairment prevalence in the United States. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171:1851–1852. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Lin FR, Yaffe K, Xia J, et al. Hearing impairment and cognitive decline among older adults. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;73:299. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Lin FR, Metter EJ, O'Brien RJ, et al. Hearing impairment and incident dementia. Arch Neurol. 2011;68:214–220. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Tun PA, McCoy S, Wingfield A. Aging, hearing acuity, and the attentional costs of effortful listening. Psychol Aging. 2009;24:761–766. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wingfield A, Tun PA, McCoy SL. Hearing impairment in older adulthood—what it is and how it interacts with cognitive performance. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2005;14:144–148.

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