Sensory abilities naturally decline with age. In a large Canadian-based study, it was estimated that by 75 years of age, almost 50% of older adults have mild hearing or vision loss. By the age of 85 years old, about 40% have both mild hearing and vision loss. Males are more likely than females to have hearing and dual sensory loss (1). Since hearing loss often occurs gradually over time, many people don’t realize they have it (2). Sensory loss affects communication, cognition, and social relationships and is even associated with an increased risk of falls (3-7). Some signs of hearing problems include needing to ask for repetition and difficulty communicating in noisy environments (8). Some signs of vision problems may be blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, sensitivity to light, double vision, loss of colour perception, seeing floaters or flashing lights, or severe eye pain (9). There are a number of effective strategies you can take to protect, check, and improve hearing and vision.

What the research tells us

Protect your senses: To prevent vision loss, wear sunglasses in bright sun (10;11). When in noisy environments, wear earplugs. Exposure to loud sounds can cause preventable noise-induced hearing loss (12-14). You could be at risk of noise-induced hearing loss if you spend considerable time in noisy environments, use loud machinery, use firearms, or listen to amplified music. Strategies to reduce the risk include turning down the volume, limiting your time in noisy environments, and using properly fitted hearing protection (14). Decibel X is a free phone app to measure noise levels (15;16). Decibel levels of 85 dB HL have the potential to be damaging to your ears (14).

Test your senses: Check your hearing and vision using your smartphone to recognize if there are sensory problems (17;18). You can also check your hearing using the free Hearing Numbers app (iOS or Android), which will help you track changes in your hearing (19). The World Health Organization recommends vision screening every 1-2 years for adults over 50 years old, as well as hearing screening every 5 years for adults aged 50–64 years old and every 1–3 years for adults 65 years or older (11;20). Most age-related changes to your hearing and vision can be corrected or treated if identified early (11;20;21). Use these links to find your closest hearing or vision healthcare provider (22;23).

Seek help if you have sensory problems: Seek help and information about how to live with sensory impairments as soon as you notice sensory problems. Additional vision rehabilitation options are available through Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada (24). Many of these services are designed to consider the possibility of having more than one age-related impairment (i.e., vision and hearing loss). Adaptations and accessibility solutions are just around the corner.

Embrace technology and adopt new strategies: Depending on an individual’s situation, they may be helped by using technologies (e.g., hearing aids or glasses) and modifying communication strategies and environments (e.g., turning down noise, using closed captioning, or increasing lighting) (11;14). Hearing and vision healthcare professionals can help you decide if you are ready for hearing aids or glasses. Use your technology on a regular daily basis and encourage friends and family to use their devices as well.

• Hearing aids: The research tells us that hearing aids and other technologies can improve quality of life (25;26). Hearing aids can make communication easier, improve our psychosocial well-being, and provide tinnitus relief (27-29). The better the quality of input, the better one can understand and remember. Other technology aids that can improve hearing include remote microphone systems and personal amplifier systems (14).
• Use good communication strategies: Whether you or a loved one is using hearing technology or not, good communication strategies are a must. Communication strategies are easy to use and cost no money (30). Some examples you can start using right away include:
  • getting someone’s attention before speaking;
  • facing the person you are speaking to and ensuring they can see you;
  • reducing background noise when possible or moving to a quieter location;
  • rephrasing rather than repeating when something is not understood;
  • taking turns speaking when in groups; and
  • having a positive attitude!

References

1. Mick PT, Hämäläinen A, Kolisang L, et al. The prevalence of hearing, vision, and dual sensory loss in older Canadians: An analysis of data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Can J Aging. 202; 40(1):1-22. doi: 10.1017/S0714980820000070.
2. Davis A, McMahon CM, Pichora-Fuller KM, et al. Aging and hearing health: The life-course approach. Gerontologist. 2016; 56(2):S256-67. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnw033.
3. Loughrey DG, Kelly ME, Kelley GA, et al. Association of age-related hearing loss with cognitive function, cognitive impairment, and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018; 144(2):115-26. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2017.2513.
4. Nagarajan N, Assi L, Varadaraj V, et al. Vision impairment and cognitive decline among older adults: A systematic review. BMJ Open. 2022; 12(1):e047929. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047929.
5. Mick P, Parfyonov M, Wittich W, et al. Associations between sensory loss and social networks, participation, support, and loneliness: Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Can Fam Physician. 2018; 64(1):e33-41.
6. Holge S, Deshmukh K, Shah P, et al. The impact of age-related sensory impairments (hearing, vision, and taste) on cognitive function, social interaction, and quality of life in older adults. Int J Geriatr Gerontol. 2023; 6(155):2577-0748.
7. Lin FR, Ferrucci L. Hearing loss and falls among older adults in the United States. Arch Intern Med. 2012; 172(4):369-71. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.728.
8. Canadian Hearing Services. Hearing loss. [Internet] n.d. [cited November 2024]. Available from: https://www.chs.ca/hearing-loss
9. Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada. Eye conditions and diseases. Understanding common causes of vision loss. [Internet] n.d. [cited November 2024]. Available from: https://visionlossrehab.ca/en/resources/vision-loss-and-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases
10. Government of Canada. Seniors and aging – Vision care. [Internet] 2006. [cited November 2024]. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/your-health/lifestyles/seniors-aging-vision-care.html
11. Vision and Eye Screening Implementation Handbook. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
12. Morata TC, Gong W, Tikka C, et al. Hearing protection field attenuation estimation systems and associated training for reducing workers’ exposure to noise. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024; 5(5):CD015066. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD015066.pub2.
13. Nelson DI, Nelson RY, Concha-Barrientos M, et al. The global burden of occupational noise-induced hearing loss. Am J Ind Med. 2005; 48(6):446-58. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20223.
14. World Report on Hearing. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
15. Dinh, T. Decibel X:dB Sound Level Meter (Version 9.9.). [Internet] 2024. [cited November 2024]. Available from: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/decibel-x-db-sound-level-meter/id448155923
16. SkyPaw Co., Ltd. Decibel X: Pro Sound Metre. (Version 9.3.2.). [Internet] 2024. [cited November 2024]. Available from: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skypaw.decibel&hl=en_CA
17. World Health Organization. hearWHO. [Internet] n.d. [cited November 2024]. Available from: https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation/hearwho
18. World Health Organization. Check your vision with WHOeyes. [Internet] 2023. [cited November 2024]. Available from: https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation/whoeyes
19. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Hearing Number. [Internet] n.d. [cited December 2024]. Available from: https://hearingnumber.org/
20. Hearing Screening: Considerations for Implementation. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
21. Chadha S, Dillard LK, Mariotti SP, et al. Monitoring hearing and vision functions in older adults: Rationale and process. Age Ageing. 2023; 52(4):iv158-61. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afad123.
22. Canadian Academy of Audiology. [Internet]. n.d. [cited November 2024]. Available from: https://findanaudiologist.ca/#/cid/1486/id/1701
23. Canadian Association of Optometrist. Find a doc. [Internet] n.d. [cited November 2024]. Available from: https://opto.ca/find-doc
24. Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada. Resources practical information for people with vision loss. [Internet] n.d. [cited November 2024]. Available from: http://visionlossrehab.ca/en/resources
25. Borre ED, Kaalund K, Frisco N, et al. The impact of hearing loss and its treatment on health-related quality of life utility: A systematic review with meta-analysis. J Gen Intern Med. 2023; 38(2):456-79. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07795-9.
26. Ferguson MA, Kitterick PT, Chong LY, et al. Hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017; 9:CD012023. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012023.pub2.
27. Oosthuizen I, Manchaiah V, Launer S, et al. Hearing aid experiences of adult hearing aid owners during and after fitting: A systematic review of qualitative studies. Trends Hear. 2022; 26. doi: 10.1177/23312165221130584.
28. Waechter S, Jönsson A. Hearing aids mitigate tinnitus, but does it matter if the patient receives amplification in accordance with their hearing impairment or not? A meta-analysis. Am J Audiol. 2022; 31(3):789-818. doi: 10.1044/2022_AJA-22-00004.
29. Johnson CE, Danhauer JL, Ellis BB, et al. Hearing aid benefit in patients with mild sensorineural hearing loss: A systematic review. J Am Acad Audiol. 2016; 27(04):293-310. doi: 10.3766/jaaa.14076.
30. Health Hearing. Communication tips for talking to people with hearing loss. [Internet] 2023. [cited November 2024]. Available from: https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/51744-Communication-strategies-when-talking-to-individuals-with-hearing-loss