Epidemiology of Vision and Hearing Impairment in Older Community Dwelling Adults in New Zealand

The majority in this cohort (~80%) reported adequate vision and ability to hear or minimal impairment, and half the cohort experienced dual sensory impairment. Access to hearing and vision assessments was less among those in aged residential care compared with those receiving support at home, and examinations and aids to overcome hearing impairment were less frequently used than aids for visual impairment. Further research is required to understand the reasons behind these observations.