Dual task iTUG to investigate increased fall risk among older adults with bilateral hearing loss

OBJECTIVES: To investigate fall risk among older adults with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (BHL) by comparing single task (ST) and dual task (DT) performance on the instrumented "Timed Up & Go" test (iTUG). The TUG is a well-validated clinical tool for fall risk; addition of wireless sensors increases the test's sensitivity and allows for subcomponent analysis.

METHODS: Adults with audiometrically confirmed normal hearing or BHL were prospectively recruited and screened for visual, musculoskeletal, neurologic, or vestibular pathology and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) < 10. Total and sub-component iTUG data in the ST and DT condition (serial subtraction) was collected.

RESULTS: 35 adults (50-78 years) were included: 20 (mean 69 years) with BHL and 15 controls (mean age 63 years). Total iTUG duration did not differ between groups in either the ST or DT condition. In sit-to-stand, BHL were significantly slower than controls (p < 0.03) in both ST and DT conditions. In the final subcomponent (stand-to-sit), a significant interaction was observed such that the BHL group were significantly slower with DT compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: BHL performed slower on sub-component analysis of the iTUG compared with age-matched normal hearing controls. Slower times on the final iTUG phase for BHL may suggest a lower threshold for attentional capacity that may be cumulative. Further investigation into the impact of treatment (including amplification and training) is warranted.