Till Örebro universitet

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of severe dual sensory loss (DSL) among older persons (aged >= 65 years) in the Swedish population, to identify the diagnoses that cause severe DSL, and to identify rehabilitation services in which the participants have been involved.

Design: A cross-sectional design was applied. Medical records from Audiological, Low Vision, and Vision clinics from two Swedish counties were used.

Study sample: 1257 adults, aged >= 65 years with severe hearing loss (HL) (>= 70 dB HL) were included, whereof 101 had decimal visual acuity <= 0.3.

Results: Based on the population size in the two counties (>= 65 years, n = 127,638), the prevalence of severe DSL was approximately 0.08% in the population. Within the group having DSL (n = 101), 61% were women and 71% were aged >= 85 years. Common diagnoses were cataract and/or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in combination with HL. The rehabilitation services offered were mainly hearing aids and various magnifiers.

Conclusions: The study confirmed previous results, indicating that the prevalence of severe DSL increases with age and that sensorineural HL and cataract, AMD or glaucoma coexist. The identified rehabilitation services mainly focussed on either vision loss or HL but not on severe DSL as a complex health condition.

PURPOSE: To describe the rehabilitation service experiences of older adults with dual sensory loss (DSL).

METHODS: Twenty older adults aged ≥65 years with DSL participated in semistructured interviews. Inductive qualitative content analysis was conducted.

RESULTS: The participants' experiences were classified into three main categories: 1. Maintaining and regaining function included experiences regarding interventions compensating for loss of function and medical corrections; 2. Mastering the situation described the individuals' competence of DSL, skills acquisition and taking control; and 3. Delivery of rehabilitation services included experiences of encounters with professionals, their attitudes and the organizational impact on accessibility and collaboration.

CONCLUSIONS: It was important for participants to regain function and compensate for loss in function and to meet others in group rehabilitation. The professionals' attitudes were an important factor that affected the participants' approach to rehabilitation services. Rehabilitation services mainly focused on either VL or HL, not DSL. Based on the participants' experiences, the rehabilitation services seemed to contribute to the older adults' well-being, participation in activities and life roles, which is consistent with the WHO's definition of healthy ageing. The findings can contribute to the development of rehabilitation services for older adults with DSL to meet the diversity of these individuals' needs.