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Hearing in geriatric long-stay patients
Comprehensive Gerontology. Section A, Clinical and Laboratory Sciences
|June 1, 1987
Summary
Hearing loss is a widespread and neglected issue in geriatric long-stay patients. Most residents require hearing aids, but access and staff education are insufficient.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Audiology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Hearing impairment is prevalent in geriatric long-stay patients.
- This issue is often underestimated and neglected, impacting patient well-being.
- Dementia significantly limits audiological assessment capabilities in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess hearing function in geriatric long-stay patients.
- To identify the prevalence and severity of hearing loss.
- To highlight the need for improved hearing aid access and staff training.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 197 geriatric long-stay patients (aged 51-104 years).
- Hearing problems information collected via questionnaire.
- Pure-tone audiometry performed after wax extraction for eligible patients.
Main Results:
- Only 55 patients could participate in hearing tests due to dementia.
- All tested patients exhibited significantly impaired hearing (mean speech area loss of 51 dB).
- Less than 10% of patients used hearing aids, despite the majority needing them; amplification devices were scarce.
Conclusions:
- Hearing loss is a significant, under-addressed problem in geriatric long-stay care.
- Objective neurophysiological tests may be necessary for assessing hearing in patients with dementia.
- Enhanced staff education on communication strategies and improved access to hearing aids are crucial.