Preliminary Examination of the Accuracy of a Fall Detection Device Embedded into Hearing Instruments

Background Accidental falls are a significant health risk to older adults and patients seen in audiology clinics. Personal emergency response systems are effective in preventing long lies (defined as remaining on the floor or ground for greater than one hour after a fall), but some individuals would prefer to wear less-conspicuous devices than a traditional neck-worn pendant. No previous investigation has compared the accuracy of head-worn fall detection devices with those worn on other parts of the body. In this study, we compared the accuracy of one commonly used fall detection pendant with two variants of a new hearing instrument-based fall detection system. Purpose The purpose of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of detecting falls by using inertial sensors embedded in hearing instruments. Research Design A study with repeated measures for one group. Study Sample Ten young adults served as participants. All participants had normal or corrected-to-normal vision during testing. Individuals were excluded if they had self-reported cardiac disorders, recent concussions, or musculoskeletal conditions. Data Collection and Analysis Data were collected from inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors, embedded into a binaural set of hearing instruments, during laboratory-based simulations of falls, near-falls, and activities of daily living (ADLs). The detection state of a fall detection pendant was simultaneously recorded during performance of each trial and compared with the outputs of offline hearing instrument firmware emulators. Results One hearing instrument-based fall detection system was more accurate than the fall detection pendant. A second hearing instrument-based fall detection system performed similar to the fall detection pendant. Each of the three fall detection systems investigated were robust against false-positive detections during ADLs. Conclusions Preliminary findings demonstrate that hearing instruments embedded with a fall detection device (FDD) may be a suitable alternative to more traditional forms of FDDs (e.g., pendant, wrist-worn device, etc.) for detecting falls and potentially preventing long lies.

Preliminary Examination of the Accuracy of a Fall-Detection Device Embedded into Hearing Instruments

Background: Accidental falls are a significant health risk to older adults and patients seen in audiologyclinics. Personal emergency response systems are effective in preventing long lies (defined as remainingon the floor or ground for greater than one hour after a fall), but some individuals would prefer to wear less conspicuousdevices than a traditional neck-worn pendant. No previous investigation has compared theaccuracy of head-worn fall detection devices with those worn on other parts of the body. In this study, wecompared the accuracy of one commonly used fall detection pendant with two variants of a new hearinginstrument–based fall detection system.<br />Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of detecting falls by using inertial sensorsembedded in hearing instruments.<br />Research Design: A study with repeated measures for one group.<br />Study Sample: Ten young adults served as participants. All participants had normal or corrected-to normalvision during testing. Individuals were excluded if they had self-reported cardiac disorders, recentconcussions, or musculoskeletal conditions.<br />Data Collection and Analysis: Data were collected from inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors, embeddedinto a binaural set of hearing instruments, during laboratory-based simulations of falls, near-falls,and activities of daily living (ADLs). The detection state of a fall detection pendant was simultaneouslyrecorded during performance of each trial and compared with the outputs of offline hearing instrumentfirmware emulators.<br />Results: One hearing instrument–based fall detection system was more accurate than the fall detectionpendant. A second hearing instrument–based fall detection system performed similar to the fall detectionpendant. Each of the three fall detection systems investigated were robust against false-positive detectionsduring ADLs.<br />Conclusions: Preliminary findings demonstrate that hearing instruments embedded with a fall detectiondevice (FDD) may be a suitable alternative to more traditional forms of FDDs (e.g., pendant, wrist-worndevice, etc.) for detecting falls and potentially preventing long lies.<br />

Effectiveness of light paths coupled with personal emergency response systems in preventing functional decline among the elderly

Introduction: The elderly population is at high risk of functional decline, which will induce significant costs due to long-term care. Dependency could be delayed by preventing one of its major determinants: falls. Light paths coupled with personal emergency response systems could prevent the functional decline through fall prevention. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of light paths coupled with personal emergency response systems on the functional decline in an elderly population living at home. It is a secondary analysis on data from a previous cohort. In all, 190 older adults (aged 65 years or more) living at home participated. Participants in the exposed group were equipped with home-based technologies: light paths coupled with personal emergency response systems. The participants’ functional status was assessed using the Functional Autonomy Measurement System scale at baseline (T0) and at the end of the study (T12-month). Baseline characteristics were evaluated by a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Results: After 1 year, 43% of the unexposed group had functional decline versus 16% of the exposed group. Light paths coupled with personal emergency response systems were significantly associated with a decrease in the functional decline (Δ Functional Autonomy Measurement System ⩾ 5) at home (odds ratio = 0.24, 95% confidence interval (0.11–0.54), p = 0.002). Discussion: This study suggests that light paths coupled with personal emergency response systems prevent the functional decline over 12 months. This result may encourage the prescription and use of home-based technologies to postpone dependency and institutionalization, but they need a larger cost-effectiveness study to demonstrate the efficiency of these technologies.

Falls as outcome in clinical trials

Falls have significant impact on affected individuals. They may lead to injuries including fractures, hospitalization, decrase in mobility, and loss of independence. Therefore, falls constitute a relevant outcome parameter in clinical trials. However, especially elderly and frail patients may forget to report or neglect falls. The use of fall-detection technology in clinical trials may overcome this challenges. However, commercially-available fall-detection technologies are designed as personal emergency response systems rather than as measurement tools to assess the effects of an intervention. Hence, before adopting a commercially-availablefall-detection technology in a clinical trial one has to assess its suitability for such application.

Falls as outcome in clinical trials

Falls have significant impact on affected individuals. They may lead to injuries including fractures, hospitalization, decrase in mobility, and loss of independence. Therefore, falls constitute a relevant outcome parameter in clinical trials. However, especially elderly and frail patients may forget to report or neglect falls. The use of fall-detection technology in clinical trials may overcome this challenges. However, commercially-available fall-detection technologies are designed as personal emergency response systems rather than as measurement tools to assess the effects of an intervention. Hence, before adopting a commercially-availablefall-detection technology in a clinical trial one has to assess its suitability for such application.