"Screening" for Disability
Authors: Michael J. Lichtenstein
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1990)

Letters and Corrections1 October 1990"Screening" for DisabilityMichael J. Lichtenstein, MD, MScMichael J. Lichtenstein, MD, MScSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-113-7-557 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the Editors: Lachs and colleagues (1) recommend using the "whispered voice" test to screen for hearing impairment in ambulatory, elderly patients. The data cited for this test were obtained on inpatient geriatric wards, not in ambulatory settings (2). The data about observer variability for this test are few: Important differences between observers are likely in the distances used in test administration, voice pitch, and voice intensity. An intraclass correlation of 0.67 in nondemented outpatients for whispered voice interobserver reliability has been reported (3). Derived from testing 44 ears, this value may be inflated because hearing levels in pairs of...References1. Lachs M, Feinstein A, and Cooney L. A simple procedure for general screening for functional disability in elderly patients. Ann Intern Med. 1990;112:699-706. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Macphee G, Crowther J, and McAlpine C. A simple hearing test for hearing impairment in elderly patients. Age Ageing. 1988;17:347-51. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Uhlmann R, Rees T, Psaty B, and Duckert L. Validity and reliability of auditory screening tests in demented and nondemented older adults. J Gen Intern Med. 1989;4:90-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Lichtenstein M, Bess F, and Logan S. Validation of screening tools for identifying hearing-impaired elderly in primary care. JAMA. 1988; 259:2875-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. McBride W, Aguilar C, Mulrow C, and Tuley M. Screening tests for hearing loss in the elderly [Abstract]. Clin Res. 1990;38:707A. Google Scholar1. Lachs M, Feinstein A, and Cooney L. A simple procedure for general screening for functional disability in elderly patients. Ann Intern Med. 1990;112:699-706. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Sviland M. Handbook of Sexual Therapy. New York: Plenum Press; 1978. Google Scholar1. Lachs M, Feinstein A, and Cooney L. A simple procedure for general screening for functional disability in elderly patients. Ann Intern Med. 1990;112:699-706. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Rubenstein L, Calkins D, and Young R Improving patient function: a randomized trial of functional disability screening. Ann Intern Med. 1989;111:836-42. LinkGoogle Scholar3. Mathias S, Nayak U, and Isaacs G. Balance in elderly patients. The "Get Up and Go" test. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1986;67:387. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. . Periodic Health Examination, 1990 Update: 2. Early detection of depression and prevention of suicide. Can Med Assoc J. 1990;142:1233-8. Google Scholar5. : the periodic health examination. Can Med Assoc J. 1979;121:1193-254. 1984; 130:4-16. 1986;134:724-7. 1988;138:618-26. MedlineGoogle Scholar1. Kane R, Oslander J, and Abrass I eds. Essentials of Clinical Geriatrics. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1989; 182. Google Scholar2. Rubenstein L, Calkins D, and Young R. Improving patient function: a randomized trial of functional disability screening. Ann Intern Med. 1989;111:836-42. LinkGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Michael J. Lichtenstein, MD, MScAffiliations: Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital San Antonio, TX 78284 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 October 1990Volume 113, Issue 7 Page: 557-558 Keywords Disabilities Elderly Geriatrics Hearing Hearing level Inpatients Outpatients ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 October 1990 PDF downloadLoading ...