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The impact of hearing on communication
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Arrowepark Hospital, Upton Road, Wirral, Merseyside L69 5PE, UK.
Postgraduate Medical Journal
|January 22, 2000
Summary
Simple interventions significantly improved communication for elderly hospital patients with hearing impairment. These measures helped more older patients hear doctors, enhancing their overall communication experience.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Healthcare Communication
- Audiology
Background:
- Hearing impairment is prevalent in older adults.
- Communication barriers exist between elderly patients and medical staff.
- Poor communication impacts patient care and satisfaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of hearing impairment on patient-provider communication.
- To assess if hearing interventions improve perceived communication.
- To identify communication challenges faced by elderly hospital patients.
Main Methods:
- Structured interviews with 200 elderly hospital in-patients.
- Data collected before and after intervention.
- Interventions included voice amplifiers and visual aids for hearing problems.
Main Results:
- Before intervention, 22% of patients reported poor doctor communication.
- After intervention, only 6% reported poor communication (Chi-square p=0.006).
- Most communication issues stemmed from inability to hear.
Conclusions:
- Simple interventions effectively improve hearing for older hospital patients.
- Enhanced hearing leads to better perceived communication with doctors.
- Addressing hearing impairment is crucial for geriatric patient care.