Graduation Year
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Ph.D.
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Degree Granting Department
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Major Professor
Michelle Arnold, Au.D., Ph.D.
Co-Major Professor
Theresa Chisolm, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Victoria Sanchez, Au.D., Ph.D.
Committee Member
Pablo Martinez-Amezcua, Ph.D.
Committee Member
David Russ, Ph.D.
Abstract
Adults with hearing loss engage in low levels of physical activity and demonstrate poor performance on measures of functional mobility. The impact of hearing rehabilitation on these outcomes is not fully understood. Previous investigations were largely quantitative and focused on older adults ≥ 65 years of age who may respond differently to hearing intervention than relatively younger adults. They also tended to focus on exercise rather than global engagement in physical activities and did not report hours of hearing aid use, an important indicator of intervention success. One purpose of this dissertation was to determine the feasibility of collecting accelerometry-assessed physical activity data and performance-based functional mobility data in adults with hearing loss. A second was to assess preliminary quantitative and qualitative changes in these outcomes with hearing aid use. This work is a series of three single-group studies embedded within a larger 6-month pilot study at the University of South Florida. Participants were 30 new hearing aid users 55 to 75 years of age with a better-ear pure-tone average (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz) between 30- and 55-dB HL. Overall, it was feasible to collect accelerometry and functional mobility data within a larger pilot study. Some evidence shows that hearing aid use facilitated positive changes in physical activity and functional mobility. Future work is needed to investigate additional strategies to promote widespread improvement in these areas. This work represents a critical step needed to understand how hearing aid use impacts physical health and function.
Scholar Commons Citation
Bochat, Sarah L., "Physical Activity and Functional Mobility in Adults with Hearing Loss: A Series of Embedded Studies within a 6-Month Clinical Trial with Hearing Aids" (2025). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10850
