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Fall risk screening protocol for older hearing clinic patients.
Robin E Criter1, Julie A Honaker1,2
1a Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders , University of Nebraska-Lincoln , Lincoln , NE , USA and.
International Journal of Audiology
|May 26, 2017
Summary
This study found that combining hearing and balance assessments, along with medication review and mobility tests, effectively screens audiology patients for fall risk. This protocol offers high accuracy for identifying individuals prone to falls in hearing clinics.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Gerontology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Falls are a significant health concern for older adults, leading to injury and reduced quality of life.
- Audiology clinics are well-positioned to implement fall risk screening due to patient demographics and accessible tools.
- Identifying fall risk factors within audiology settings can facilitate timely interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify audiology patient characteristics that differentiate fallers from non-fallers.
- To evaluate the clinical utility of specific measures for fall risk screening in audiology practices.
- To assess the feasibility of integrating fall risk screening into routine audiology appointments.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed.
- Participants included community-dwelling audiology patients and non-audiology patients aged over 60.
- Measures assessed included the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), medication count, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.
Main Results:
- The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) demonstrated 76.0% sensitivity in identifying patients with recent falls.
- The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) showed 90.9% specificity in identifying patients without recent falls.
- A combined protocol (HHIE, DHI, medication count, TUG) achieved 92.0% sensitivity and 100% specificity for fall risk identification.
Conclusions:
- A multi-measure screening protocol effectively identifies fall risk in audiology patients with high accuracy.
- Fall risk screening is feasible in audiology settings using readily available tools, overcoming previous barriers.
- Integrating fall risk assessment into audiology care can improve patient safety and preventive health outcomes.
