Hearing Loss Is Associated with Increased Variability in Double Support Period in the Elderly
Betsy Szeto,
Damiano Zanotto,
Erin M. Lopez,
John A. Stafford,
John S. Nemer,
Adam R. Chambers,
Sunil K. Agrawal,
Anil K. Lalwani
Affiliations
Betsy Szeto
Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
Damiano Zanotto
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, School of Engineering & Science, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA
Erin M. Lopez
Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
John A. Stafford
Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
John S. Nemer
Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
Adam R. Chambers
Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
Sunil K. Agrawal
Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
Anil K. Lalwani
Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
Hearing loss is a disabling condition that increases with age and has been linked to difficulties in walking and increased risk of falls. The purpose of this study is to investigate changes in gait parameters associated with hearing loss in a group of older adults aged 60 or greater. Custom-engineered footwear was used to collect spatiotemporal gait data in an outpatient clinical setting. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine the relationship between spatiotemporal gait parameters and high and low frequency hearing thresholds of the poorer hearing ear, the left ear, and the right ear, respectively, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory–Screening version score. Worsening high and low frequency hearing thresholds were associated with increased variability in double support period. Effects persisted after adjusting for the effects of age and perceived vestibular disability and were greater for increases in hearing thresholds for the right ear compared to the left ear. These findings illustrate the importance of auditory feedback for balance and coordination and may suggest a right ear advantage for the influence of auditory feedback on gait.
