How does age-related hearing loss affect dual-task execution in cognitively healthy older adults?

Age-related hearing loss causes difficulties with balance and mobility as it is associated with slower walking speed and lower walking endurance. Also, hearing impairments interfere with attention. Decline in hearing acuity may be a central cause of greater risk of falls in older adults. Aim. We investigated whether older adults with poor hearing acuity are more prone to show gait disturbances than elderly with normal hearing function when performing a dual-task during walking. Method. 35 elderly with reduced hearing acuity and 35 elderly with normal hearing were included. All were right-handed and free of cognitive dysfunction. Pure tone audiometry was performed. Participants were classified into low (LHA) or normal hearing acuity (NHA). The dichotic listening (DL) test was used to measure attention. DL has 3 conditions where focus of attention changes from right to left ear or non-specified. Each condition is performed simultaneously during walking. Gait was evaluated with the OptoGait system. Results. Both groups showed gait disturbances, however the LHA group showed the highest perturbations. Asymmetric perturbation on the right foot was also observed for both groups. Conclusions. Elderly with LHA show clear spatio-temporal impairments during dual-task performance, which confirms that LHA elderly are at higher risk of falling.