title: Severity of age-related hearing loss is associated with impaired activities of daily living.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  age-related hearing loss is a common chronic condition; hence, it is important to understand its influence on the functional status of older adults. We assessed the association between hearing impairment with activity limitations as assessed by the activities of daily living (ADL) scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  a total of 1,952 Blue Mountains Hearing Study participants aged ≥60 years had their hearing levels measured using pure-tone audiometry. A survey instrument with questions on functional status as determined by the Older Americans Resources and Services ADL scale was administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  one hundred and sixty-four (10.4%) participants reported ADL difficulty. A higher proportion of hearing impaired than non-impaired adults reported difficulties in performing three out of the seven basic ADL and six out of the seven instrumental ADL tasks. After multivariable adjustment, increased severity of hearing loss was associated with impaired ADL (P(trend )= 0.001). Subjects with moderate to severe hearing loss compared with those without, had a 2.9-fold increased likelihood of reporting difficulty in ADL, multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.87 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.59-5.19]. Participants aged <75 years with hearing loss compared with those without, had 2-fold higher odds of impaired ADL. Having worn or wearing a hearing aid was also associated with a 2-fold increased likelihood of impaired ADL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  functional status as measured by a common ADL scale is diminished in older hearing impaired adults. Our findings suggest that severely diminished hearing could make the difference between independence and the need for formal support services or placement.
authors: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute,  University of Sydney, Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, NSW 2145,  Australia.
authors: Bamini
authors: B
authors: Gopinath
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Schneider
authors: Catherine M
authors: CM
authors: McMahon
authors: Erdahl
authors: E
authors: Teber
authors: Stephen R
authors: SR
authors: Leeder
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009517:New South Wales; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires