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Falls in the audiology clinic: a pilot study.
Robin E Criter1, Julie A Honaker1
1Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
|January 4, 2014
Summary
Older audiology patients experience high fall rates, with 50% falling in the past year. Balance confidence scores correlate with age and fall frequency, highlighting a need for fall prevention strategies in audiology clinics.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Falls are a significant cause of injury and mortality in older adults.
- Hearing loss, vestibular disorders, dizziness, and imbalance are established fall risk factors.
- The fall rate among older audiology patients remains unquantified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of falls and associated risk factors in elderly individuals attending a university audiology clinic.
- To assess the relationship between balance confidence and fall history in this population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective chart review was conducted on 88 patients aged 60 and older.
- Data included fall history, demographic information, and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale.
- Statistical analyses involved t-tests, Pearson correlations, and descriptive statistics.
Main Results:
- 50% of patients reported at least one fall in the preceding 12 months; 70% reported falls in their lifetime.
- The ABC Scale score showed a negative correlation with patient age and the number of recent falls.
- A higher prevalence of falls was observed in this audiology clinic population compared to general population fall rates.
Conclusions:
- Older adults seeking audiology services exhibit a high prevalence of falls.
- Balance confidence, as measured by the ABC Scale, is linked to age and fall incidence.
- These findings underscore the importance of fall risk assessment and prevention within audiology settings.
