PP1511 - Balance Functions Among Older Adults Who Are Deaf

Abstract:
Hearing loss is associated with vestibular and balance deficits that can impact quality of life, yet deaf individuals are less likely to use healthcare services than their hearing counterparts. In an attempt to determine balance care needs in this population, we described and compared the vestibular and balance functions in older deaf adults to those of younger deaf adults. We found that the vestibular and balance functions of older deaf adults are worse than those of younger deaf adults, despite a majority reporting little to no functional difficulty. Further research should highlight ways to mitigate falls in older deaf adults.

Summary:
Gonzalez et al. (2023) found that adults who identify as deaf are less likely to utilize healthcare services when compared to individuals who identify as hearing. Vestibular deficits are common in deaf adults (Lin & Young, 2016), but due to this health disparity, they can often go without diagnosis and intervention. This study aims to evaluate the vestibular and balance functions in older deaf adults who use American Sign Language (ASL) and compare the findings with results from younger deaf adults. 
Data was collected from deaf adults between the ages of 64-84 years who self-reported early-onset deafness and the use of ASL. Typical ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP), cervical VEMP (cVEMP), and video head impulse test (vHIT) procedures were utilized. The limits of stability (LOS), modified clinical tests of sensory integration of balance (mCTSIB), 5-times sit-to-stand, timed up-and-go (TUG), and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale were administered, in ASL, to address different balance control functions. The results of these tests were then compared to data from a 2021 study by Tamaki et al. that evaluated the vestibular and balance functions of 39 young deaf adults between the ages of 18-29. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data for both older and younger deaf individuals, and non-parametric statistics, as appropriate, will be used to compare the younger and older adults' vestibular and balance function status.

So far, we have collected data from eight older deaf adults, and we expect to add at least ten more participants. In the older deaf adult group, we found that 50% had at least one fall within the past year, 62.5% completed moderate intensity exercise multiple times a week, 87.5% took more than five medications, 50% had normal lateral vHIT and bilateral cVEMPs, 25% had bilateral oVEMPs, 87.5% had normal center of gravity sway velocity on mCTSIB, a majority had abnormal TUG and 5 Times Sit to Stand, and 25% had low confidence on the ABC scale. In the younger deaf adults, 38% had bilateral cVEMPs, 9% had bilateral oVEMPs, 8% had abnormal COG sway velocity, and 24% had low confidence on the ABC scale. 
Deaf adults appear to function well when young, even with objectively measurable vestibular impairment, perhaps due to life-long adaptation. When comparing the older and younger deaf adult groups, we found that the vestibular and balance functions of older deaf adults are worse than those of younger deaf adults, suggesting the need for intervention in this population.