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How The "Oldest Old" Experience and Adapt to Vision and Hearing Loss Through the Use of Assistive Technologies

As people live longer than ever before, the chances of experiencing age-related sensory losses in vision and hearing are equally unprecedented. Changes in vision and hearing have demonstrated effects on older adults' physical, cognitive, and socioemotional wellbeing, particularly in regards to social isolation. Despite what is already known about the age-related impacts of vision and hearing changes, there is a relative lack of knowledge about repercussions for the "oldest old," those who are ages 85 and older. In this study, a panel of 25 adults ages 85 and older was surveyed and convened for small discussion groups about changes in vision and hearing and ways in which "the oldest old" perceive and utilize technologies that mitigate these changes. Changes in vision appeared to primarily drive independent activities and functional abilities whereas changes in hearing primarily affected ease of interpersonal communication and sense of connection and belonging. To adapt to age-related changes in vision and hearing, our findings suggest that adults ages 85 and older adopt a variety of protective mechanisms, including formal and informal assistance, assistive technologies, and attitudes that ultimately reflect an internal locus of control. Findings suggest a new avenue of research to focus on very old adults as "hackers" and creators of spaces and technologies that serve their evolving sensory needs.