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

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.

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.

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.

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.