Hearing Loss: Perceptions and Solutions

Communication difficulties are not the only problems associated with hearing impairment. Hearing loss can lead to depression, social isolation, stress, and functional problems, such as impaired balance. Hearing loss and dementia have several symptoms in common, such as confusion, withdrawal, irritability, disorientation, and inappropriate responses, that can lead to a diagnosis of a more severe cognitive impairment than is truly the case. When furnished with hearing amplification, residents with dementia score better on cognitive screening tests than those without amplification.³ When a proper screening program is in place and assistive listening devices are used, continuing decreases in quality of life and functional abilities can be stabilized.

Although there is no universal protocol for screening hearing in nursing home residents, helpful assessment tools do exist. The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly is a widely used screening questionnaire. This 10-item questionnaire assesses the emotional and social impacts of hearing loss on residents. Answers are given in a “Yes,” “No,” or “Sometimes” format and then scored accordingly. Scoring and interpretation instructions are provided (see table).

If a resident fails the screening, a full audiologic evaluation performed by a state-licensed, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)’certified audiologist is recommended. A comprehensive audiologic exam is considered the standard method for determining the type and severity of hearing loss and to rule out middle-ear pathology. In addition, it provides essential information in determining candidacy for hearing aids, assistive listening devices (ALDs), and aural rehabilitation. Medicare Part B covers hearing evaluations (CPT code 92557) when they are deemed medically necessary, such as to rule out a middle-ear pathology as a cause for a de-crease in hearing.

Otoscopic ear examination should be performed in conjunction with an audiologic evaluation to exclude other treatable causes of hearing loss, including cerumen (earwax) impaction, ear infections, and tympanic membrane perforations. In fact, cerumen impaction is one of the most common causes of hearing loss in the elderly and can be attributed to a hearing loss of up to 40 decibels.⁴ Aural rehabilitation and amplification should be offered to residents once they have been qualified as candidates for these services.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, www.asha.org

Better Hearing Institute, www.betterhearing.org

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, www.cms.hhs.gov

HITEC Group, Ltd., www.hitec.com

Williams Sound Corp., www.williamssound.com

Amplification
Hearing aids are the most commonly used amplification for the hearing-impaired. It has been reported, however, that only one-fifth of all residents who could benefit from hearing aids actually own them.⁶ The most common reasons cited for this are residents’ anxiety about hearing aid maintenance and care, and cost. Other issues with hearing aids, such as problems with insertion, cleaning, changing batteries, using volume controls accurately, and turning hearing aids on and off, can indeed be overwhelming, and residents may decide that their hearing “isn’t that bad” after all.

According to ConsumerAffairs.com, the average cost of a pair of hearing aids in 2004 was $2,300.⁷ Cost can be prohibitive for the elderly, who might rely strictly on Medicare and Medigap to meet their healthcare needs. In fact, of the 10 standard Medigap plans available, not one covers the cost of hearing aids. A few commercial insurance companies reimburse for hearing aids, but coverage varies greatly. Medicaid coverage for hearing aids also varies greatly, depending on the state.

Other Amplification Options
Assistive technology can play an important role in the hearing healthcare of residents who are unable to handle or afford hearing aids. Assistive technology falls into two main categories: alerting devices and ALDs.

Alerting devices can help the hearing-impaired perceive environmental sounds, such as those made by a doorbell, telephone, or fire alarm. These devices rely typically on flashing lights or vibration to communicate. They provide an important service to those who want to maintain their independence and still ensure their safety.

ALDs help to address communication problems by amplifying sounds and are typically stand-alone devices; i.e., no hearing aids are required. There are many ALD options available, including telephone amplifying devices, TV listening systems, and personal listening systems.

Instructions: Answer Yes, No or Sometimes for each question. Do not skip a question if you avoid a situation because of hearing problems. If you use hearing aids or assistive devices, answer according to the way you hear without amplification.

Scoring: No = 0; Sometimes = 2; Yes = 4.

Interpretation of Scoring: 0-8 = no handicap; 10-24 = mild to moderate handicap; 26-40 = severe handicap.

TV listening systems typically use infrared technology to send sound from a transmitter plugged into the television to a headset receiver with an independent volume control. (It’s no wonder that they are commonly referred to as “marriage savers.”)

Personal listening systems are perhaps the most useful to nursing home residents. These systems are inexpensive compared with hearing aids and can be much easier to handle. Personal amplifiers are handheld, battery-operated devices that are perfect for one-on-one conversation or even watching television. Most personal amplifiers are hardwired, meaning that a microphone is attached to a receiver by a wire. An example of a personal amplifier is the Pocketalker Pro by Williams Sound. It comes with several headset options, a carrying case, and a microphone extension cord for a television. It operates on two AA batteries (with optional recharger) and comes standard with a five-year warranty.

There are times, however, when the resident or facility needs a less expensive option. In our practice, we recommend the Turbo Ear to fill this need. The Turbo Ear comes standard with in-the-ear headphones (other options may be available) and uses one AAA battery. The Turbo Ear does not provide as much amplification as the Pocketalker, but it can be quite helpful when trying to communicate with a hearing-impaired resident who has budget constraints.

Other personal amplifying systems are available. An audiologist should be consulted to help select the most appropriate device for the individual patient.

Conclusion
Hearing loss affects every aspect of a resident’s life. It can greatly deteriorate quality of life and have a negative impact on independence. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities can help improve their resident’s lives by using the specialized skills of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Hearing impairment can easily be identified with a well-implemented screening process and improved with the help of an aural rehabilitation program that employs the use of assistive technology.