Prevalence of dual sensory impairment in Australia: a nationally representative population-based survey of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Abstract

The prevalence of co-occurring vision and hearing impairment (Dual Sensory Impairment, DSI) is expected to increase with the global ageing population. This national survey aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors for objectively measured DSI in adults. Stratified, multi-stage random cluster sampling of 30 sites was conducted. DSI cases included persons with bilateral vision impairment (presenting distance visual acuity <6/12 in the better eye) and either, any (>25 dB hearing level, dB HL, in the unaided better ear) or moderate to worse bilateral hearing impairment (>40 dB HL, unaided better ear). 4519 participants aged 50+ years underwent the eye examination and 3573 (79.1%) also completed the ear examination. Age-standardized prevalence of DSI was 2.5% for any hearing impairment, and 1.3% for moderate or worse hearing impairment. DSI prevalence for the >25 dB HL and >40 dB HL categories, increased by ∼13- and 9-fold (p < 0.0001), respectively, from 50 to 80+ years. Age and not having private health insurance were associated with greater likelihood of DSI (for any hearing impairment) in Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants. Not having private insurance accounted for 34.0% and 86.2% of the total DSI burden in non-Indigenous and Indigenous adults, respectively. In non-Indigenous adults, living in remote/very remote areas was a risk factor: OR 2.87 (95% CI 1.27-5.96). DSI prevalence rises sharply with age in Australian adults. Socioeconomic disadvantage and geographic inequities account for a substantial proportion of Australia's DSI burden. Australian Commonwealth Government Department of Health; Martin Lee Centre for Innovations in Hearing Health.