title: Falls in the audiology clinic: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Falls are a common and often preventable cause of injury and death among older adults. Hearing loss, vestibular disorders, dizziness, and imbalance are common risk factors for falls; however, the rate of falls among older audiology patients has never been assessed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the fall history and risk factors of older adults seen in a university audiology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive and correlational retrospective chart review of fall history and characteristics of patients seen in a university audiology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  88 (51 women, 37 men) patients aged 60 yr and older seen in a university audiology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  At the time of hearing evaluation, clinic patients filled out the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, as well as a history form containing fall-related questions. These measures, as well as demographic information (gender and age) were retrieved during a retrospective chart review. Data were analyzed with independent-samples t-tests, Pearson correlations, and descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty percent of the study sample reported falling within the preceding 12 mo, while 70% reported having fallen at some point in the past. ABC Scale score was negatively correlated with age and number of recent falls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There appears to be a higher prevalence of falls within a university audiology clinic relative to previously published fall rates in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.
authors.forename: Robin E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Criter
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Honaker
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001298:Audiology; D004244:Dizziness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*