TY - JOUR
T1 - Falls in the audiology clinic
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Criter, Robin E.
AU - Honaker, Julie A.
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - Background: Falls are a common and often preventable cause of injury and death among older adults. Hearing loss, vestibular disorders, dizziness, and imbalance are common risk factors for falls; however, the rate of falls among older audiology patients has never been assessed. Purpose: To examine the fall history and risk factors of older adults seen in a university audiology clinic. Research Design: A descriptive and correlational retrospective chart review of fall history and characteristics of patients seen in a university audiology clinic. Study Sample: 88 (51 women, 37 men) patients aged 60 yr and older seen in a university audiology clinic. Data Collection and Analysis: At the time of hearing evaluation, clinic patients filled out the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, as well as a history form containing fall-related questions. These measures, as well as demographic information (gender and age) were retrieved during a retrospective chart review. Data were analyzed with independent-samples t-tests, Pearson correlations, and descriptive statistics. Results: Fifty percent of the study sample reported falling within the preceding 12 mo, while 70% reported having fallen at some point in the past. ABC Scale score was negatively correlated with age and number of recent falls. Conclusions: There appears to be a higher prevalence of falls within a university audiology clinic relative to previously published fall rates in the general population.
AB - Background: Falls are a common and often preventable cause of injury and death among older adults. Hearing loss, vestibular disorders, dizziness, and imbalance are common risk factors for falls; however, the rate of falls among older audiology patients has never been assessed. Purpose: To examine the fall history and risk factors of older adults seen in a university audiology clinic. Research Design: A descriptive and correlational retrospective chart review of fall history and characteristics of patients seen in a university audiology clinic. Study Sample: 88 (51 women, 37 men) patients aged 60 yr and older seen in a university audiology clinic. Data Collection and Analysis: At the time of hearing evaluation, clinic patients filled out the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, as well as a history form containing fall-related questions. These measures, as well as demographic information (gender and age) were retrieved during a retrospective chart review. Data were analyzed with independent-samples t-tests, Pearson correlations, and descriptive statistics. Results: Fifty percent of the study sample reported falling within the preceding 12 mo, while 70% reported having fallen at some point in the past. ABC Scale score was negatively correlated with age and number of recent falls. Conclusions: There appears to be a higher prevalence of falls within a university audiology clinic relative to previously published fall rates in the general population.
KW - Aged
KW - Audiology
KW - Risk of falls
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U2 - 10.3766/jaaa.24.10.11
DO - 10.3766/jaaa.24.10.11
M3 - Article
C2 - 24384085
AN - SCOPUS:84892689518
VL - 24
SP - 1001
EP - 1005
JO - Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
JF - Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
SN - 1050-0545
IS - 10
ER -