Public lecture: Improving physical activity in older adults with hearing loss

“I don’t want to make a fuss. I don’t want to be different. I don’t want to be seen as disabled.”

This public lecture was delivered by Dr David Maidment, Lecturer in Psychology at Loughborough University in 5th May 2022. Taking place during hearing loss awareness week, the talk discussed improving physical activity in older adults with hearing loss.

Hearing loss in older adults is independently associated with an increased risk of developing chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia. Evidence suggests that physical activity may play a role in this association, since older adults with hearing loss are more likely to be physically inactive or sedentary.

No studies to date have examined how physical activity can be successfully facilitated in this population. As a result, this presentation outlined the work that has been completed at Loughborough University assessing the associations between hearing loss, chronic disease risk and physical activity. It also discussed ongoing work involving the development a digital behaviour change intervention that aims to improve physical activity in older adults with hearing loss so they can live longer, healthier lives.

	Dr David Maidment has been a Lecturer in Psychology within the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University since January 2019. His research interests focus on digital behaviour change interventions to improve physical activity and reduce noncommunicable disease risk in adults with disabilities (both sensory and physical).

David initially studied within the School of Psychology at Cardiff University, graduating in 2008 with a BSc in Applied Psychology. As part of his undergraduate degree, he completed a one-year professional placement at Great Ormond Street Hospital and UCL Institute of Child Health. He then went on to complete an MSc and PhD at Cardiff University, funded by the Economic & Social Research Council, where he explored how different modes of speech interact in verbal short-term memory. David has also worked as a Research Associate at the Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research, and a Research Fellow within the Hearing Loss theme at the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre. David has been involved in the development and evaluation of digital interventions for hearing loss, underpinned by contemporary models of health behaviour change.

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