Correlation of hearing loss and chronic falling among patients with dementia in 3 memory-care communities

In older adults with dementia, many activities of daily living are often impacted by symptoms of impaired cognition. In addition, hearing loss has been shown to be associated with increased fall risk. To investigate this correlation, a 3-month observational study was conducted at 3 memory-care assisted-living communities in Illinois in residents with mild, moderate, or severe dementia. Level of dementia was assessed via Mini-Mental State Examination. Medical and social history were also analyzed. The study found a correlation between hearing loss and falls among participants defined as chronic fallers (5 or more falls in a 3-month period). Results show that participants with hearing loss seemed to be at greater risk for chronic falls, which may help providers implement more effective fall-prevention strategies.