Life quality of low-vision elderly people: before and after hearing and speech intervention

Monteiro, Mayla Myrina Bianchim; Carvalho, Keila Miriam Monteiro de

doi:10.5935/0034-7280.20150043

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Artigos originais • Rev. bras. oftalmol. 74 (4) • Jul-Aug 2015 • https://doi.org/10.5935/0034-7280.20150043 copy

Life quality of low-vision elderly people: before and after hearing and speech intervention

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Aim:

To evaluate life quality of elderly people with acquired low vision before and after hearing and speech intervention.

Methods:

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was made with 52 elderly people with acquired low vision. Two questionnaires that measures life quality were used in this study. The first was ‘Low Quality of Life Vision (LVQOL)’ and the second the ‘National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEIVFQ-25)’. The study included people with more than 60 years with acquired low vision and who accepted to participate signing the consent form. The hearing and speech therapy were made into three months, one meeting a week. The questionnaires were applied in the first and last day of the intervention.

Results:

The age ranged between 60 and 91 years. The macular disorder (38%), such as age-related macular degeneration, macular hole and high myopia were the main causes of visual loss. Although the tests show superior performance after the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference. On the question about difficulties seeing in general, 17 participants answered that they had much more difficulty before the intervention and only 5 participants have reported having much difficulty after the intervention.

Conclusion:

The intervention trended to positive results, and after the meetings, participants showed improvements in aspects of the two questionnaires used in the study, decreasing the degree of difficulty in performing activities.

Keywords:
Quality of life; Low vision; Elderly; Questionnaire; Rehabilitation

	Before Intervention				After Intervention
Difficulty in some activities	LOT	MEDIA	FEW	NONE	VEM	A LOT	MEDIA	FEW	NONE	VEM
Difficulty in some activities	(4)		(2)	(1)	(PRE)	(4)		(2)	(1)	(POST)
1. To see generally?	17	26	9	0	3.2	5	31	10	3	2.8
2. To use vision for long time?	22	22	8	0	3.3	9	30	7	3	2.9
3. To use the night vision at home?	23	16	14	0	3.2	12	28	6	3	3.0
4. To see with glare?	17	25	10	0	3.1	16	23	7	3	3.1
5. To see street signs?	24	18	10	0	3.3	15	26	5	3	3.1
6. To watch TV?	18	23	11	0	3.1	8	31	7	3	2.9
7. Seeing objects that move?	20	23	9	0	3.2	23	18	5	3	3.2
8. To calculate the distance between you and an object?	29	22	11	0	3.3	24	17	5	3	3.3
9. To see steps or holes in the sidewalk ?	25	18	9	0	3.3	26	16	4	3	3.3
10. To walk on the neighborhood ?	24	18	10	0	3.3	23	19	4	3	3.3
11. To cross the street with traffic?	26	17	9	0	3.3	25	17	4	3	3.3

Use of optical aids	Before		After
(N=52)	Intervention		Intervention
Yes	37	61%	45	86%
No	15	39%	7	14%
Total	52	100%	52	100%

Types of optical aids	Before		After
(N=52)	Intervention		Intervention
Glasses	27	52%	31	60%
Magnifying glasses	10	19%	18	35%
Others	4	8%	5	10%
Do not use	15	39%	7	14%
Total	52	100%	52	100%

Intended use of the optical feature	Before Intervention (N=37)				After Intervention (N=45)
Intended use of the optical feature	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO
To read close, yes or no?	27	10	73%	27%	36	9	80%	20%
To read	14	23	38%	62%	12	33	27%	73%
To watch tv, yes or no?	15	31	33%	67%	15	31	33%	67%
To write, yes or no?	20	17	54%	46%	34	11	76%	24%
To do manual work, yes or no?	19	18	51%	49%	30	15	67%	33%
To walk on the street, yes or no?	15	22	41%	59%	18	27	40%	60%

	Before Intervention					After Intervention
Using optical aids, the degree of difficulty you have to (n=52)	A LOT	MEDIA	FEW	NONE	VEM(PRE)	A LOT	MEDIA	FEW	NONE	VEM (PRE)
To read large letters in newspaper?	8	13	12	4	2.68	4	26	11	4	2.67
To read text of journal or book?	11	15	8	3	2.92	7	26	8	4	2.80
To read labels for medicines?	12	15	7	3	2.97	25	10	7	3	3.27
To read letters?	12	14	8	3	2.95	23	12	7	3	3.22
To thread the needle?	16	10	8	3	3.05	26	8	8	3	3.27
To cut with scissors?	16	10	8	3	3.05	26	8	7	3	3.30
To write?	11	10	11	5	2.73	13	20	9	3	2.96
To read what you write?	11	11	12	3	2.81	11	22	9	3	2.91
To do housework?	11	11	8	7	2.70	6	23	11	3	2.71

Sub domains VFQ (N=52)	Before intervention	After intervention	Difference pre x post	Itens num	Questions
	(average)	(average)
Geral health	46	46	0	1	1
Vision	61	58	-3	1	2
Ocular pain	61	62	1	2	4,19
Closer activities	46	48	2	3	5,6,7
Far activities	42	43	1	3	8,9,14
Social aspects	39	42	3	2	11,13
Psychological aspects	53	50	-3	4	3,21,22,25
Daily life activities	56	48	-7	2	17,18
Dependency	54	50	-5	3	20,23,24
Ability to drive motor	0	0	0	2	15,16
Color vision	50	52	2	1	12
Peripheral vision	44	42	-2	1	10

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[1] Corresponding author: Mayla M. B. Monteiro Rua Renato Portioli, 509 Jardim Itapema, Mogi Mirim, SP Zip code: 13801-036; Brazil Fax: 19 3862-1839 E-mail: maylamonteiro@gmail.com