Combined hearing and vision loss in older Australians; VisionHearing screening project commencing soon
22 July 2010
Vision Australia, along with research partners from the University of Sydney, Macquarie University and the Audiological Society of Australia, are involved in an NHMRC Partnership project focusing on combined hearing and vision loss in older Australians.
In this project, clients (aged 65 years or older) attending the Caringbah or Enfield low vision clinics will be invited to join the study and undergo a free hearing screening test and research interview. Screening will be commencing in the last week of July 2010 and will be ongoing for at least 12 months. A Research Audiologist is available at Vision Australia to undertake the project
The NHMRC Partnership project is a practical extension of knowledge gained from the Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) which has been conducted by Professor Paul Mitchell at the University of Sydney for over 15 years. In the BMES a correlation between hearing and vision loss was found. Both cataract and age related macular degeneration (AMD) were significantly associated with hearing loss. Of those people with a presenting vision loss (<6/12), 65% had a concurrent hearing loss. For each 1 line reduction in presenting visual acuity there was a 13% increase in the likelihood of hearing loss (note A).
The prevalence of hearing and vision issues with aging is not well reported in Australia and the Vision-Hearing project will provide some important data on the number of people presenting to low vision clinics who experience reduced hearing.
Auditory and visual senses usually compensate for each other in important ways and the inability to compensate for degraded information from another sense can have a significant impact on the older person with combined loss. It is important that information through each sensory system is maximised so that as many auditory and visual compensatory cues as possible are available to support an individual's independence.
Separate vision and hearing rehabilitation systems currently operate in Australia and these often fail to service and support older people with combined vision and hearing loss in a coherent and collaborative manner.
Through the Vision-Hearing project, Vision Australia hopes to make a positive difference for older clients who experience both losses, by streamlining their navigation of separate rehabilitation systems and creating positive health outcomes.
If you would like further details please contact Delwyn Mugridge, Research Audiologist on 02 9334 3144.
Note A: Chia EM, Mitchell P, Rochtchina E et al. Association between vision and hearing impairments and their combined effects on quality of life. Arch Ophthalmol 2006; 124:1465-70
