Audiologists should not fail with falls: A call to commit to prevention of falls in older adults.
Christine Rogers
PMID 34636596WHAT IT FOUND
Audiologists are urged to screen older adults for fall risk using simple tools like the Timed Up and Go test.
The article argues that hearing loss and vestibular issues increase fall risk, but it presents no new clinical trial data or patient outcomes.
What this paper is
This is an opinion article and call to action for audiologists to screen for fall risk in older adults. It reviews existing literature on the link between hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction, and falls, and suggests clinical strategies like using the Timed Up and Go test. It reports no new patient data, no original study results, and no outcomes, so there is no new evidence here to change your practice.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat the recommendations in this article as new evidence from a clinical trial. This is an opinion piece advocating for existing fall-risk screening practices in audiology, not a study that tested whether these interventions work.