Vision and hearing in old age

Abstract

The concomitant occurrence of hearing and visual impairment was investigated as part of an epidemiological longitudinal study of elderly people. An age cohort, originally consisting of 973 elderly people, was examined with visual and hearing tests three times at ages 70, 81-82 and 88. The best-corrected visual acuity was assessed. The hearing was measured by pure-tone audiometry and whispered and spoken voice (WSV). At age 70 there was no coexistence of visual and hearing impairments, and about 70% had normal vision and hearing. At 81-82 years 3-6% (WSV and audiometry, respectively) had low vision (VA ≤0.3) and moderate to severe hearing loss, and more than one-tenth had normal vision and hearing. At 88 years 8-13% had low vision and moderate to severe hearing loss, and none of the men and less than one-tenth of the women had normal vision and hearing. At age 88 three times as many women as men had the combination of low vision and normal hearing. Normal vision with the combination of moderate to severe hearing loss was more often found in 88-year-old men. Mild impairments of the two senses were found in 0.5% at age 70 in 22%, 11% (WSV, audiometry) at age 81-82 and in 23%, 9% at age 88 years. At age 70 there was a statistical correlation between visual acuity and hearing measured with pure-tone audiometry in the male group. Those men with better hearing had slightly better visual capacity than those with hearing loss. No correlations were found for women at age 70 nor for women and men at ages 81-82 and 88. Ophthalmologists and audiology physicians should cooperate closely in the rehabilitation process to reduce disability and improve function and wellbeing among the oldest old.