Wellbeing
Listening to the needs of those with hearing loss
Andrew Thomas, chair of the International Hearing Loop Manufacturers Association (IHLMA), looks at how hearing loops can help address the needs of people with hearing loss, ensuring homes provide person centred care and meet equality legislation
Hearing loss affects 71 per cent of people aged 70 and over, and with an ageing population this figure will continue to rise. It is estimated that by 2032 almost 80 per cent of people living in residential care in England will have a hearing impairment. Not being able to hear clearly can lead to frustration, isolation and depression, yet how many care homes have assistive listening technology that can transform residents’ quality of life?
Hearing loss affects 11 million people in the UK, with the most common form being age-related. It is a disability that is
often referred to as ‘hidden’ as it is not always evident someone has a hearing impairment, but the impact can be considerable. People may be unaware, or may have trouble admitting to, not being able to hear. However, there are signs such as asking for things to be repeated, watching television with the volume turned up high or being reluctant to answer the telephone. Someone with hearing loss can suddenly start to avoid taking part in conversations or refuse invitations to go out, especially to places like restaurants and cafes where the sound levels can be
particularly high. An enthusiasm for playing bingo or going to church may disappear because their hearing loss means they can’t actively participate. The isolation and frustration that result can lead to low mood and in a residential setting, people may withdraw to their rooms more frequently. Frustration can lead to a change in behaviour and not responding to staff or fellow residents can be mistaken for cognitive decline.
Amplification
Of course, residents may move into care with a documented hearing impairment and many are likely to have a hearing aid, but this doesn’t automatically mean they’ll be able to hear the sounds they want to hear. Hearing aids amplify all sounds, which often makes it difficult for people to distinguish between speakers in a conversation over lunch in the dining room or the fitness instructor’s calls above the sound of the music. As a result, they might remove their hearing aids or withdraw from activities, leaving them at risk of isolation and depression. Challenges to communication such as these can affect a home’s ability to provide truly person centred care or the care that’s appropriate to that individual.
Sunrise Senior Living Eastbourne
Someone with hearing loss can suddenly start to avoid taking part in conversations or refuse invitations to go out, especially to places like restaurants and cafes where the sound levelscan be particularly high
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Most care home residents with hearing loss will use a hearing aid, as this is the most common assistive listening device issued by the NHS. Hearing loops can transform their everyday listening experience by providing a direct link to the source of the sound they want to hear. The ‘loop’ refers to a loop of cable that converts speech, for example, from a specially positioned microphone, into a magnetic signal. The signal is converted back into speech by the telecoil receiver in the hearing aid, so when the wearer switches it to the ‘T’ position, they can hear that speaker clearly. The loop
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • January 2019
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