Self-Reported Hearing Status Is Associated with Lower Limb Physical Performance, Perceived Mobility, and Activities of Daily Living in Older Community-Dwelling Men and Women

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Poor hearing is common in older adults and it may have negative consequences which extend beyond communication. OBJECTIVES: To explore the associations of self-reported hearing problems with physical performance and self-reported difficulties in mobility and activities of daily living (ADL) in community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study SETTING: Community PARTICIPANTS: 848 men and women aged 75-90 years MEASUREMENTS: Structured face-to-face interviews to assess perceived hearing problems in the presence of noise, mobility difficulties (moving indoors, stair-climbing, 0.5 km walk and 2 km walk) and difficulties in ADLs and instrumental ADLs. The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test was administered. Age, years of education, cognitive functioning, and self-reported cardiac, circulatory, and locomotor diseases were used as covariates. RESULTS: Compared to persons who reported good hearing, persons who reported major hearing problems had a lower SPPB total score indicating poorer performance (mean 9.8 vs. 10.9, p=0.009) and more difficulties in ADLs (mean 1.8 vs. 1.4, p=0.002) and IADLs (mean 4.6 vs. 3.4, p=0.002) after controlling for covariates. They also had higher odds for more difficulty in stair-climbing (OR 2.8, p<0.001) and walking 2 km (OR 2.1, p=0.003) and tended to have more difficulty in walking 0.5 km (OR 1.7, p=0.050) but not in moving indoors (p=0.177). Persons who reported only some hearing problems did not differ from those who reported good hearing in any of the variables studied. CONCLUSION: Perceived major hearing problems among older adults may contribute to 4 poorer lower limb performance, and difficulties in mobility and ADL. Longitudinal studies are needed in order to disentangle whether poor hearing is a risk factor for decline in physical performance.