Life Space Mobility and Social Frailty for Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Different Levels of Hearing Impairment

Life-space mobility reflects daily and social movement, crucial for active aging and independence in older adults. Good mobility is associated with greater vitality and the ability to live independently. This study examines the relationship between hearing loss and life-space mobility using pure tone average (PTA) hearing levels.

This cross-sectional study recruited participants aged 50-79 from January 2023 to May 2024 through community in southern Taiwan. Participants were recruited via electronic bulletin boards and word-of-mouth. Hearing was assessed using pure tone audiometry, and data on socioeconomic status, life-space mobility, cognition, depression, social frailty, and health status were collected via questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of life-space mobility.

Ninety participants (mean age 64.21 years) with good cognition completed the study. Pure tone audiometry showed 60% had bilateral hearing loss (better ear hearing level >20 dB), and 15.6% had bilateral hearing disability (bilateral hearing level >50 dB). Low life-space mobility was observed in 5.6%, and social frailty in 13.3%. Bilateral hearing disabilities predicted low life-space mobility (OR = 48.34, CI = 2.06-1136.35). Each decibel increase in worse ear hearing level increased the likelihood of low life-space mobility by 6% (OR = 1.06, CI = 1.0-1.1).

Hearing loss is an independent predictor of life-space mobility. Increased worse ear hearing levels are associated with reduced life-space. Routine hearing assessment may support timely identification and intervention to preserve mobility in aging populations.