title: Audiology patient fall statistics and risk factors compared to non-audiology patients.
abstract: To compare fall statistics (e.g. incidence, prevalence), fall risks, and characteristics of patients who seek hearing healthcare from an audiologist to individuals who have not sought such services.
  
  
  
  Case-control study.
  
  
  
  Two groups of community-dwelling older adult patients: 25 audiology patients aged 60 years or older (M age: 69.2 years, SD: 4.5, range: 61-77) and a control group (gender- and age-matched ±2 years) of 25 non-audiology patients (M age: 69.6, SD: 4.7, range: 60-77).
  
  
  
  Annual incidence of falls (most recent 12 months) was higher in audiology patients (68.0%) than non-audiology patients (28.0%; p = .005). Audiology patients reported a higher incidence of multiple recent falls (p =.025) and more chronic health conditions (p = .028) than non-audiology patients.
  
  
  
  Significantly more audiology patients fall on an annual basis than non-audiology patients, suggesting that falls are a pervasive issue in general hearing clinics. Further action on the part of healthcare professionals providing audiologic services may be necessary to identify individuals at risk for falling.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders , University of Nebraska-Lincoln , Lincoln , USA.
authors.forename: Robin E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Criter
authors.affiliation: a Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders , University of Nebraska-Lincoln , Lincoln , USA.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Honaker
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D001298:Audiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009329:Nebraska / Q000453:epidemiology; D004856:Postural Balance; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Audiology; balance; fall risk; hearing; older adults