Auditory and visual impairments in patients with blast-related traumatic brain injury: Effect of dual sensory impairment on Functional Independence Measure

J Rehabil Res Dev. 2009;46(6):819-26. doi: 10.1682/jrrd.2008.09.0129.

Abstract

The frequencies of hearing impairment (HI), vision impairment (VI), or dual (hearing and vision) sensory impairment (DSI) in patients with blast-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their effects on functional recovery are not well documented. In this preliminary study of 175 patients admitted to a Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, we completed hearing and vision examinations and obtained Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores at admission and discharge for 62 patients with blast-related TBI. We diagnosed HI only, VI only, and DSI in 19%, 34%, and 32% of patients, respectively. Only 15% of the patients had no sensory impairment in either auditory or visual modality. An analysis of variance showed a group difference for the total and motor FIM scores at discharge (p < 0.04). Regression model analyses demonstrated that DSI significantly contributed to reduced gain in total ( t = -2.25) and motor ( t = -2.50) FIM scores ( p < 0.05). Understanding the long-term consequences of sensory impairments in the functional recovery of patients with blast-related TBI requires further research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Afghan Campaign 2001-
  • Blast Injuries / complications*
  • Brain Injuries / complications*
  • Disability Evaluation*
  • Female
  • Hearing Loss / complications
  • Hearing Loss / epidemiology
  • Hearing Loss / etiology*
  • Hospitals, Veterans
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Iraq War, 2003-2011
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Military Personnel*
  • Rehabilitation Centers / statistics & numerical data*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vision Disorders / complications
  • Vision Disorders / epidemiology
  • Vision Disorders / etiology*