Research Article
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Evaluation of Visual and Hearing Functions of Individuals Over 50 Years Old with a Driver’s License

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 5 - 9

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the visual and hearing functions of individuals with a driver’s license over the age of 50.
Material and Method: This is a single-center, prospective, and descriptive study. Individuals aged 50 and older with driver’s licenses who presented to Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics were included. A data collection form was used to collect sociodemographic information. Visual and hearing examinations were performed using the Snellen Test, the Amsler Grid 16 Test, and the Whisper Test.
Results: The sample of the study included 95 people with a median age of 58 (min: 50, max: 74). The number of participants with vision problems in at least one eye was 17 (22.1%) in the eye tests of those using reading or distance glasses. In the Whisper Test, eight (8.4%) of the participants had a hearing impairment in both ears. 86.3% (n=82) of the participants in the right ear examination had normal hearing, while 84.2% (n=80) of the participants in the left ear examination had normal hearing. Twenty (21.2%) participants had a hearing impairment in at least one ear. Our study’s results showed that 41.1% (n= 39) of the participants had hearing and/or vision problems.
Conclusion: In our study, the eyesight and hearing of individuals with driver’s license who were aged 50 and older were evaluated, and it was found that two out of every five patients had problems in at least one eye and/or ear. This situation poses a risk of traffic accidents.

Ethical Statement

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Supporting Institution

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Thanks

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References

  • Turkish Statistical Institute. Road Traffic Accident Statistics [Internet]. Turkey: Turkish Statistical Institute; 2023 May. [cited 2023 Jul 12] Avaible from: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Karayolu-Trafik-Kaza-Istatistikleri-2022-49513.
  • World Health Organization. Road traffic injuries [Internet]. Switzerland; World Health Organization; 2023 Dec. [cited 2024 Feb 12]. Avaible from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries.
  • Ministry of Health - Republic of Turkey. Regulation on the Health Conditions and Examination of Driver Candidates and Drivers [Internet]. Turkey; Ministry of Health- Republic of Turkey; 2016 Jul. [cited 2024 Feb 12]. Avaible from: https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=10664&MevzuatTur=7&MevzuatTertip=5.
  • Turkish Statistical Institute. Health Survey in Turkey [Internet]. Turkey; Turkish Statistical Institute; 2023 Jun. [cited 2023 Jul 13]. Avaible from: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Turkiye-Saglik-Arastirmasi-2022-49747.
  • World Health Organization. Blindness and vision impairment [Internet]. Switzerland; World Health Organization; 2023 Aug. [cited 2023 Jul 13]. Avaible from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment.
  • Öktem Ç, Aslan F. Characteristics of Driver Candidates Referred to the Opthalmology Clinic in a Tertiary Hospital: Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study, MN Ophthalmology. 2020;27(3):173-177.
  • Congdon N, O’Colmain B, Klaver CC, Klein R, Munoz B, Friedman DS et al. Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States. Archives Ophthalmology. 2004;122(4):477-85. https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.122.4.477
  • Morse AR, Seiple W, Talwar N, Lee PP, Stein JD. Association of vision loss with hospital use and costs among older adults. JAMA ophthalmology. 2019;137(6):634-40. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.0446.
  • Lee DJ, Gómez-Marín O, Lam BL, Zheng DD. Visual acuity impairment and mortality in US adults. Archives of ophthalmology. 2002;120(11):1544-50. https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.120.11.1544.
  • Jones GC, Rovner BW, Crews JE, Danielson ML. Effects of depressive symptoms on health behavior practices among older adults with vision loss. Rehabilitation Psychology. 2009;54(2):164. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015910.
  • Ivers RQ, Norton R, Cumming RG, Butler M, Campbell AJ. Visual impairment and hip fracture. American journal of epidemiology. 2000;152(7):633-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/152.7.633.
  • Elsawy B, Higgins KE. The geriatric assessment. American family physician. 2011;83(1):48-56.
  • Lohler J, Cebulla M, Shehata-Dieler W, Volkenstein S, Volter C, Walther LE. Hearing Impairment in Old Age. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(17):301-10. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2019.0301.
  • Texas Department of Publis Safety. Drivers Age 79 or Older [Internet]. United States; Texas Department of Publis Safety. [cited 2023 Jul 15] Avaible from: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/drivers-age-79-or-older.
  • State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. California Driver’s Handbook: S [Internet]. United States; State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. [cited 2023 Jul 15]. Avaible from: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/seniors- and%20driving/#:~:text=If%20you%20are%2070%20years,issued%20a%20temporary%20driver’s%20license.
  • General Directorate of Security, Traffic Directorate [Internet]. Turkey; General Directorate of Security; 2022 Apr. [cited 2023 Jul 15] Avaible from: https://www.trafik.gov.tr/ehliyet-ozellikli-kimlik-karti-sahibi-sayisi-3-milyon-31-bin-930a-yukseldi-merkezicerik#:~:text=T%C3%BCrkiye%2C%20yeni%20tip%20s%C3%BCr%C3%BCc%C3%BC%20belgesiyle,bin%2021%20ehliyet%20sahibi%20bulunuyor.
  • European Union. Getting a driving licence in the EU. [Internet]. European Union; 2023 June. [cited 2023 Jul 16]. Avaible from: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving-licence/get-driving-licence/index_en.htm#shortcut-0.
  • Swiss Medical Weekly. Aging and driving in Switzerland. [Internet]. Switzerland; Swiss Medical Weekly; 2019 Oct. [cited 2023 Jul 16]. from https://smw.ch/index.php/smw/announcement/view/23.

Elli Yaş Üstü Ehliyet Sahibi Bireylerin Görme ve Işitme Fonksiyonlarının Değerlendirilmesi

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 5 - 9

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma ile 50 yaş üstü ehliyet sahibi bireylerin görme ve işitme fonksiyonlarının değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışma tek merkezli, tanımlayıcı ve prospektif olarak planlanmıştır. Çalışmaya Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Aile Hekimliği polikliniklerine başvuran 50 yaş ve üstü ehliyet sahibi bireyler dahil edilmiştir. Çalışmaya dahil edilen katılımcılara sosyodemografik verilerinin sorgulandığı veri formunun yanı sıra görme muayenesi için Snellen Testi ve Amsler Grid 16 Testi; işitme muayenesi için Fısıltı Testi uygulanmıştır.
Bulgular: Çalışmaya 96 kişi dahil edilmiştir. Katılımcıların yaş median değeri 58 (min: 50, max: 74) idi. Gözlük kullanan katılımcılar arasında en az bir gözünde görme problemi olan katılımcı sayısı 17 (%22,1) idi. Katılımcılar arasında fısıltı testi sonucunda her iki kulağımda işitme problemi olan kişi sayısı 8 (%8,4) idi. Yirmi (%21,2) katılımcının ise en az bir kulağında işitme problemi vardı. Her iki kulağın fısıltı testi ile ayrı ayrı değerlendirme sonuçlarında; sağ kulak muayenesinde katılımcıların %86,3’ü (n=82) normal işitmeye sahipken, sol kulak muayenesinde katılımcıların %84,2’si (n=80) normal işitmeye sahipti. Çalışmada, katılımcıların %41,1’inin (n=39) işitme ve/veya görme sorunu yaşadığını saptanmıştı.
Sonuç: Çalışmamızda, 50 yaş ve üstü katılımcıların görme ve işitme değerlendirmesi sonucunda her beş hastadan ikisinin en az bir gözünde ve/veya kulağında problem olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bu durum trafik kazaları için risk oluşturmaktadır.

References

  • Turkish Statistical Institute. Road Traffic Accident Statistics [Internet]. Turkey: Turkish Statistical Institute; 2023 May. [cited 2023 Jul 12] Avaible from: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Karayolu-Trafik-Kaza-Istatistikleri-2022-49513.
  • World Health Organization. Road traffic injuries [Internet]. Switzerland; World Health Organization; 2023 Dec. [cited 2024 Feb 12]. Avaible from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries.
  • Ministry of Health - Republic of Turkey. Regulation on the Health Conditions and Examination of Driver Candidates and Drivers [Internet]. Turkey; Ministry of Health- Republic of Turkey; 2016 Jul. [cited 2024 Feb 12]. Avaible from: https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=10664&MevzuatTur=7&MevzuatTertip=5.
  • Turkish Statistical Institute. Health Survey in Turkey [Internet]. Turkey; Turkish Statistical Institute; 2023 Jun. [cited 2023 Jul 13]. Avaible from: https://data.tuik.gov.tr/Bulten/Index?p=Turkiye-Saglik-Arastirmasi-2022-49747.
  • World Health Organization. Blindness and vision impairment [Internet]. Switzerland; World Health Organization; 2023 Aug. [cited 2023 Jul 13]. Avaible from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment.
  • Öktem Ç, Aslan F. Characteristics of Driver Candidates Referred to the Opthalmology Clinic in a Tertiary Hospital: Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study, MN Ophthalmology. 2020;27(3):173-177.
  • Congdon N, O’Colmain B, Klaver CC, Klein R, Munoz B, Friedman DS et al. Causes and prevalence of visual impairment among adults in the United States. Archives Ophthalmology. 2004;122(4):477-85. https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.122.4.477
  • Morse AR, Seiple W, Talwar N, Lee PP, Stein JD. Association of vision loss with hospital use and costs among older adults. JAMA ophthalmology. 2019;137(6):634-40. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.0446.
  • Lee DJ, Gómez-Marín O, Lam BL, Zheng DD. Visual acuity impairment and mortality in US adults. Archives of ophthalmology. 2002;120(11):1544-50. https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.120.11.1544.
  • Jones GC, Rovner BW, Crews JE, Danielson ML. Effects of depressive symptoms on health behavior practices among older adults with vision loss. Rehabilitation Psychology. 2009;54(2):164. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015910.
  • Ivers RQ, Norton R, Cumming RG, Butler M, Campbell AJ. Visual impairment and hip fracture. American journal of epidemiology. 2000;152(7):633-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/152.7.633.
  • Elsawy B, Higgins KE. The geriatric assessment. American family physician. 2011;83(1):48-56.
  • Lohler J, Cebulla M, Shehata-Dieler W, Volkenstein S, Volter C, Walther LE. Hearing Impairment in Old Age. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(17):301-10. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2019.0301.
  • Texas Department of Publis Safety. Drivers Age 79 or Older [Internet]. United States; Texas Department of Publis Safety. [cited 2023 Jul 15] Avaible from: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/drivers-age-79-or-older.
  • State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. California Driver’s Handbook: S [Internet]. United States; State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. [cited 2023 Jul 15]. Avaible from: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handbook/california-driver-handbook/seniors- and%20driving/#:~:text=If%20you%20are%2070%20years,issued%20a%20temporary%20driver’s%20license.
  • General Directorate of Security, Traffic Directorate [Internet]. Turkey; General Directorate of Security; 2022 Apr. [cited 2023 Jul 15] Avaible from: https://www.trafik.gov.tr/ehliyet-ozellikli-kimlik-karti-sahibi-sayisi-3-milyon-31-bin-930a-yukseldi-merkezicerik#:~:text=T%C3%BCrkiye%2C%20yeni%20tip%20s%C3%BCr%C3%BCc%C3%BC%20belgesiyle,bin%2021%20ehliyet%20sahibi%20bulunuyor.
  • European Union. Getting a driving licence in the EU. [Internet]. European Union; 2023 June. [cited 2023 Jul 16]. Avaible from: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving-licence/get-driving-licence/index_en.htm#shortcut-0.
  • Swiss Medical Weekly. Aging and driving in Switzerland. [Internet]. Switzerland; Swiss Medical Weekly; 2019 Oct. [cited 2023 Jul 16]. from https://smw.ch/index.php/smw/announcement/view/23.
There are 18 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Clinical Sciences (Other)
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Hilal Yalçın 0000-0003-3815-8455

Seda Özmen Sever 0000-0002-2451-6074

Guzın Zeren Ozturk 0000-0001-7730-2929

Early Pub Date March 10, 2025
Publication Date
Submission Date July 4, 2024
Acceptance Date November 26, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 7 Issue: 1

Cite

Vancouver Yalçın H, Özmen Sever S, Zeren Ozturk G. Evaluation of Visual and Hearing Functions of Individuals Over 50 Years Old with a Driver’s License. Phnx Med J. 2025;7(1):5-9.

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