The Effects of Age and Hearing Loss on Dual-Task Balance and Listening

Overview

Journal J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci

Specialties Geriatrics
Psychology
Social Sciences

Date 2017 May 10

PMID 28486677

Citations 18

Authors

Halina Bruce

Daniel Aponte

Nancy St-Onge

Natalie Phillips

Jean-Pierre Gagne

Karen Z H Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Among older adults (OA), hearing loss is associated with an increased risk for falls. The aim of the present study was to experimentally investigate the cognitive compensation hypothesis, wherein decreased auditory and motor functioning are compensated by the recruitment of cognitive resources.

Method: Twenty-nine younger adults (YA), 26 OA, and 32 OA with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) completed a dual-task paradigm consisting of cognitive and balance recovery tasks performed singly and concurrently. The auditory stimuli were presented with or without background noise.

Results: Both older adult groups performed significantly worse than YA on the cognitive task in noisy conditions and ARHL also demonstrated disproportionate negative effects of dual-tasking and noise. The kinematic data indicated that OA and ARHL demonstrated greater plantarflexion when compared with YA. Conversely, YA showed greater hip extension in response to dual-tasking.

Discussion: The cognitive and balance results suggest that YA were able to flexibly allocate their attention between tasks, whereas ARHL exhibited prioritization of posture over cognitive performance.

Citing Articles

Effects of cochlear implantation on gait performance in adults with hearing impairment: A systematic review.

Rafoul B, Tzemah-Shahar R, Lubetzky A, Cohen-Vaizer M, Karawani H, Agmon M PLoS One. 2025; 20(2):e0319322.

PMID: 40019924 PMC: 11870346. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319322.

Realistic dual-task listening-while-balancing in older adults with normal hearing and hearing loss with and without hearing aids.

Mohanathas N, Montanari L, Gabriel G, Downey R, Li K, Campos J Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):28758.

PMID: 39567644 PMC: 11579314. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79933-8.

The Role of Hearing Aids in Improving Dual-Task Gait Performance in Older Adults With Presbycusis: A Cognitive and Motor Analysis.

Soylemez E, Soylemez T, Apaydin A, Koc Apaydin Z, Yasar M Brain Behav. 2024; 14(11):e70114.

PMID: 39482836 PMC: 11527819. DOI: 10.1002/brb3.70114.

Speech-Identification During Standing as a Multitasking Challenge for Young, Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Van Wilderode M, Van Humbeeck N, Krampe R, van Wieringen A Trends Hear. 2024; 28:23312165241260621.

PMID: 39053897 PMC: 11282555. DOI: 10.1177/23312165241260621.

The impact of cognitive-motor interference on balance and gait in hearing-impaired older adults: a systematic review.

Wunderlich A, Wollesen B, Asamoah J, Delbaere K, Li K Eur Rev Aging Phys Act. 2024; 21(1):17.

PMID: 38914940 PMC: 11194914. DOI: 10.1186/s11556-024-00350-x.

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