Objective of this study was to examine the association between visual and hearing impairment and motor vehicle collision (MVC) involvement in older drivers. Participants consisted of a population-based sample of 2,000 licensed-drivers aged 70 and older. Visual acuity was measured using the Electronic Visual Acuity test. Contrast sensitivity was mea-sured using the Pelli-Robson chart. Presence of subjective hearing loss and other health conditions were determined using a general health questionnaire. Information regard-ing MVCs for all participants spanning the 5 years before study enrollment was obtained from the Alabama Depart-ment of Public Safety. Results showed that after adjustment for age, race, sex, number of miles driven, number of medical conditions, general cogni-tive status, and visual processing speed, older drivers with visual acuity and hearing impairment (rate ratio (RR) =1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01–2.30), contrast sensitivity impairment alone (RR=1.42, 95% CI=1.00–2.02), and contrast sensitivity and hearing impairment (RR =2.41, 95% CI=1.62–3.57) had higher MVC rates than drivers with no visual or hearing impair-ments. Drivers with visual acuity loss alone or hearing loss alone did not have MVC rates that were significantly different from those of the no impairment group after adjustment for multiple variables. It was concluded that older drivers with dual sensory impair-ment are at greater MVC risk than those with a visual acuity or hearing deficit alone. A combined screening approach of screening for hearing and visual impairment. (Author/publisher)
Abstract