Caring for Clients With Hearing Loss
Published: 20 September 2023
Published: 20 September 2023
Hearing loss is highly prevalent in older adults, especially those who are living in residential aged care (Deafness Forum of Australia 2018).
In Australia, 3.6 million people in total and more than 70% of people over the age of 70 have hearing loss (DoHaAC 2022). Approximately 15% of Australians use hearing aids (AIHW 2016).
Given these statistics, you are likely to encounter clients who have a hearing impairment and use hearing aids, especially when caring for older adults.
It is important to know how to care for these clients and ensure that hearing aids are being used appropriately.
Hearing loss is the reduction of a person’s ability to hear. This is often caused by wear and tear to the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea over time from ageing and chronic exposure to loud noise, which impairs the electrical signals being transmitted to the brain. Gradual hearing loss caused by age is known as presbycusis (Mayo Clinic 2023).
Other causes of hearing loss include, but are not limited to:
(WHO 2023)
Presbycusis is a type of sensorineural hearing loss, meaning it’s caused by damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve. This type of hearing loss is generally irreversible (Healthdirect 2022).
Other types of hearing loss include:
(Healthdirect 2022)
People who have mild to severe hearing loss are considered to be ‘hard of hearing’. People who are Deaf usually have profound hearing loss (very little or no hearing) (WHO 2023).
On average, people who use hearing aids have taken 10 years to seek help for their hearing loss (Johns Hopkins Medicine 2022). Furthermore, it’s estimated that only 17% of people who could benefit from a hearing aid are actually using one (Deafness Forum of Australia 2023).
Barriers that may prevent people from addressing hearing loss include cost, perceived difficulty of using hearing aids and unwillingness to accept ageing (Johns Hopkins Medicine 2022).
Some people may have difficulty noticing their hearing loss in the first place because it tends to occur gradually (Hearing Australia 2019a).
Even if healthcare staff recognise the signs of hearing loss, they may misdiagnose it as dementia or a mental health condition due to the ambiguity of certain symptoms (e.g. unresponsiveness and confusion) (Action on Hearing Loss 2020).
Being able to correctly identify the signs of hearing loss is essential, as early detection is crucial for better client outcomes and the fitting of hearing aids (Action on Hearing Loss 2020).
The following signs might indicate that a client is experiencing hearing loss:
(Hearing Australia 2019a; Healthdirect 2022; Davies 2019)
It’s important to note that high-frequency sounds are generally the first to be affected by hearing loss (Hearing Australia 2019b).
Older adults should undergo a hearing test every 12 months and be referred to a specialist immediately if hearing loss is identified (Hearing Australia 2019b).
Hearing loss has been associated with:
(WHO 2023; Mayo Clinic 2023; Action on Hearing Loss 2020)
Hearing aids are electronic devices that increase the volume of sounds, allowing people with hearing loss to hear more easily. They work by receiving sound waves through a microphone and converting them into electrical signals. These signals are then amplified in power and transmitted to the ear using a speaker (NIDCD 2022).
Hearing aids come in a variety of styles:
(NIDCD 2022; Hearing Australia n.d.a, b; Mayo Clinic 2022)
Some clients may need assistance with inserting, removing, cleaning and troubleshooting their hearing aids. It is important that you know how to perform these tasks so that you are able to help them if required (Deafness Forum of Australia 2019).
(Deafness Forum of Australia 2019)
(Deafness Forum of Australia 2019)
(Deafness Forum of Australia 2019)
When inserting, removing or cleaning a hearing aid, you may experience issues such as:
(Deafness Forum of Australia 2019)
Refer to the Deafness Forum of Australia’s Good Practice Guide for specific troubleshooting tips.
(Health.vic 2015; NIDCD 2022; Action on Hearing Loss 2020; Deafness Forum of Australia 2019)
Read: Sensory Loss in Older Adults
Knowing how to care for and communicate with clients who have hearing loss is essential for their safety, ability to participate in daily and social activities and overall quality of life. This may include assisting with the insertion, removal, cleaning and troubleshooting of hearing aids.
It is also crucial that you can correctly identify the signs of hearing loss and refer clients as soon as possible so that any issues are addressed early.
Question 1 of 3
True or false: Sensorineural hearing loss is reversible.