Current Issue
Volumes and Issues
For Authors
Manuscript Guidelines
Review Process
Conflict of Interest
Copyright
About the Journal
Editorial Board
Aim and Scope
Policy and Ethical Guidelines
Promotion of the Journal
Print-Version Subscription
Publisher and Contact Information
Contact Information
Sign in as an AUTHOR/REVIEWER
THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING FOR OLDER ADULTS:
A GERIATRICIAN’S PERSPECTIVE
1
Geriatric Department, Protestant Hospital, „Bethanien”, Iserlohn, Germany
2
Geriatric Department, St. Barbara Hospital, Attendorn, Germany
Publication date: 2012-12-31
Corresponding author
Michael Lerch
Dr Michael Lerch, MD, MBA, Abt. für Akutgeriatrie und Frührehabilitation, Ev. Krankenhaus Bethanien Iserlohn, Hugo-Fuchs-Allee 6, 58644 Iserlohn, Germany, e-mail: m.lerch@eks-schwerte.de
Dr Michael Lerch, MD, MBA, Abt. für Akutgeriatrie und Frührehabilitation, Ev. Krankenhaus Bethanien Iserlohn, Hugo-Fuchs-Allee 6, 58644 Iserlohn, Germany, e-mail: m.lerch@eks-schwerte.de
J Hear Sci 2012;2(4):40-42
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Background:
In providing medical care to senior citizens, the impact of demographic change has not been widely recognised. Whereas dementia and cognitive decline have become major concerns in caring for the elderly, sensory loss – especially decline of auditory function (in spite of its prevalence) – are still stigmatised by society and health care professionals. Although hearing aids have poor acceptance, elderly persons need them to maintain communication and social competency. Self-sufficiency in old age is the ultimate therapeutic goal in geriatrics, and so mobility, stability, emotional equilibrium, continence, nutrition, and cognition need to be targeted by multiprofessional teams. Often professionals do not recognise the prevalence of presbycusis and the options for its treatment and care, and elderly patients often ignore the symptoms of auditory decline. As a result, oral communication, as the basis of therapeutic interaction, becomes brittle. This could lead to frequent misunderstandings and behavioral changes (reduced compliance, inadequate reactions towards demands, lack of interest, social retreat, total isolation), as often experienced in dementia.
Results:
All geriatric staff, as well as the caregiver, need to be educated about presbycusis (it has a prevalence of 52%; Lerch & Decker-Maruska 2008) and the need for handicap-adjusted communication skills.
Conclusions:
Since hearing impairment carries a relative risk factor of 2.4 for the development of dementia, differentiating cognitive and auditory decline (or their comorbidity) in the elderly becomes crucial. Therefore geriatric patients should be screened for hearing impairment before any cognitive testing is done (Lerch & Decker-Maruska 2009). From a geriatric perspective, staff education, increase of awareness, early screening, and the most suitable augmentation of hearing (hearing aid, EAS, cochlear implant), matched with age-adapted audiotherapy, will bring benefits in terms of geriatric care and rehabilitation to the elderly
In providing medical care to senior citizens, the impact of demographic change has not been widely recognised. Whereas dementia and cognitive decline have become major concerns in caring for the elderly, sensory loss – especially decline of auditory function (in spite of its prevalence) – are still stigmatised by society and health care professionals. Although hearing aids have poor acceptance, elderly persons need them to maintain communication and social competency. Self-sufficiency in old age is the ultimate therapeutic goal in geriatrics, and so mobility, stability, emotional equilibrium, continence, nutrition, and cognition need to be targeted by multiprofessional teams. Often professionals do not recognise the prevalence of presbycusis and the options for its treatment and care, and elderly patients often ignore the symptoms of auditory decline. As a result, oral communication, as the basis of therapeutic interaction, becomes brittle. This could lead to frequent misunderstandings and behavioral changes (reduced compliance, inadequate reactions towards demands, lack of interest, social retreat, total isolation), as often experienced in dementia.
Results:
All geriatric staff, as well as the caregiver, need to be educated about presbycusis (it has a prevalence of 52%; Lerch & Decker-Maruska 2008) and the need for handicap-adjusted communication skills.
Conclusions:
Since hearing impairment carries a relative risk factor of 2.4 for the development of dementia, differentiating cognitive and auditory decline (or their comorbidity) in the elderly becomes crucial. Therefore geriatric patients should be screened for hearing impairment before any cognitive testing is done (Lerch & Decker-Maruska 2009). From a geriatric perspective, staff education, increase of awareness, early screening, and the most suitable augmentation of hearing (hearing aid, EAS, cochlear implant), matched with age-adapted audiotherapy, will bring benefits in terms of geriatric care and rehabilitation to the elderly
REFERENCES (14)
1.
Cordes E: Forum Schwerhörigkeit in Deutschland- Hörscreening Studie. In: DSB Report Nr. 3/2000. Hrsg. Deutscher Schwerhörigenbund, Kornel Mierau Verlag, 2000 [in German].
2.
Gates GA, Cobb JL, Linn RT et al: Central auditory dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia in older people. Arch Otolaryngology Head Neck Surg, 1996; 122: 161–67.
4.
Hear-it AISBL; Evaluation of the Social and Economic Costs of Hearing Impairment, October, 2006.
5.
Lerch M, Decker-Maruska M: Dementia and impaired hearing – a comorbidity. Eur J Neurol, 2008; 15(Suppl.3): 32–221.
6.
Lerch M, Decker-Maruska M: Dementia and hard-of hearing – a co morbidity often overlooked in geriatrics. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 2009; 57(4) Suppl.: 191–92.
7.
Lerch M, Decker-Maruska M: Case und Care Management in der Geriatrie – Versorgung schwerhöriger Patienten. European Journal of Geriatrics, 2009; 11(3–4): 196–97 [in German].
8.
Lerch M, Decker-Maruska M: Best practice in Geriatric HearCare – a concept badly needed. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 2009; 13(Suppl.1).
9.
Lin FR, Ferrucci L, Metter EJ et al: Hearing loss and incident dementia. Arch Neurol, 2011; 68(2): 214–20.
10.
Neubauer G, Gmeiner A: Institut für Gesundheitsökonomik (IfG): Volkswirtschaftliche Bedeutung von Hörschäden und Möglichkeiten zur Reduktion deren Folgekosten, 2011 [in German].
11.
Pouchain D, Dupuy C, San Jullian M et al: La presbyacousie est-belle un facteur de risque de démence? Etude AcouDem. La Revue de Gériatrie, Tome 32, N°6 Juin, 2007 [in French].
12.
Strouse AL, Hall JW III, Burger MC. Central auditory processing in Alzheimer’s disease. Ear Hear, 1995; 16(2): 230–38.
13.
Smits C, Kapteyn TS, Houtgast T: Development and validation of an automatic speech-in-noise screening test by telephone. Int J Audiol, 2004; 43: 15–28.
14.
Uhlmann RF, Larson EB, Rees TS et al: Relationship of hearing impairment to dementia and cognitive dysfunction in older adults. JAMA, 1989; 261(13): 1916–19.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
