National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)
NCRAR Monthly Seminar Series - CEU Details
The current month's seminar info and CEU documents are below (see highlighted section when you scroll to the bottom of the page).
Date: Thursday, August 8, 2024
Time: 12-1pm (Pacific)
Location: VA Portland Health Care System, NCRAR (Virtual)
Presenter: Laura Campos, AuD, PhD, CCC-A, University of Colorado, School of Medicine (specializing in adult auditory and vestibular diagnostics)
Title: The Relationship between Hearing Aid Use and Falls in Older Adults
Abstract: Falls and their sequelae cost more than $50 billion every year. Older adults with hearing loss are at 2.4 times greater risk of falls than their normal hearing peers. Individuals 60 years and older with bilateral hearing loss completed a survey consisting of the Fall Risk Questionnaire (FRQ) and questions about hearing loss history, hearing aid use, and other common fall risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, fall prevalence, as well as fall risk (based on FRQ score), was compared between hearing aid users and non-users. Responses from 299 surveys were analyzed. After adjusting for age, sex, hearing loss severity, and medication usage, those who reported any hearing aid use had lower odds of falls (OR = 0.48 [95% CI: 0.26-0.90], p = 0.02) and lower odds of being at risk for falls (OR = 0.36 [95% CI: 0.19-0.66] p < 0.001) than non-users. Results for consistent hearing aid users demonstrated an even stronger association of lowered odds of falling (OR = 0.35 [95% CI: 0.19-0.67], p < 0.001) and lower odds of being at risk for falls (OR = 0.32 [95% CI: 0.12-0.59], p < 0.001), suggesting a potential dose-response relationship. These findings suggest that use of hearing aids-especially consistent hearing aid use-is associated with lower odds of experiencing a fall or being classified as at risk for falls in older individuals with hearing loss.
Learner Outcomes: Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:
• Discuss the current literature as it relates to hearing aid use and its effects on balance, gait and fall risk.
• Describe the association between hearing aid use and fall prevalence/fall risk.
• Discuss how more consistent hearing aid use relates to fall prevalence/fall risk.
Disclosure statements: Dr. Laura Campos, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, does not have any relevant financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.
*IMPORTANT DETAILS: The seminar will be broadcast via Microsoft Teams.
To register and receive a Teams invitation, you must contact Marianne Pierson at Marianne.Pierson@va.gov before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7th, and she will send you an email invitation with a Microsoft Teams link.
Once you have a Microsoft Teams invitation, please see the instructions for joining below at the time of the call:
1. Click on the “Join Microsoft Teams Meeting” link in the Outlook invitation for the seminar (in the Outlook calendar)
2. Click on “Join now," and mute your microphone.
3. Alternately, you can simply call the telephone number listed below the "Join Microsoft Teams Meeting" link. Note: MUTE your phone; do not place your phone on hold.
CEUs: If you wish to receive ASHA CEUs for watching the seminar, please click on the link below to submit your evaluation:
| ASHA CEU Evaluation (link) |
You will need to submit your CEU evaluation within 5 business days (August 16th) in order to receive credit. Contact Marianne Pierson at Marianne.Pierson@va.gov with questions.
NCRAR is approved by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association to offer 0.1 CEU for this continuing education activity (Advanced level, Professional Area).
