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The Profound Impact of Leaving Hearing Loss Untreated

Presenter: Alexandra deGroot, AuD, F-AAA

Clinical Audiologist and Hearing Ally, Founder

September 28th, 2016

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Today’s talk is based on: • Research + Evidenced based methods

• Clinical Experience

• Life Experience

Alexandra deGroot, AuD

Owner of Hearing Ally

- Provide training to providers and

families.

- Create and manage innovative

hearing health systems.

Clinical Audiologist at Bellevue ENT

- Medical team based audiology

- Diagnostics

- Hearing aids and implants and

aural rehabilitation

Doctorate of Audiology, UW

- Residency at UW Medical Center

- Outreach in Vietnam and

El Salvador

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Aging

Model 1: Aging Increased Risk of…

Dementia

Cognitive Decline

Hearing Loss

Falling

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Untreated

Hearing Loss

Model 2: Hearing Loss Increased Risk of…

Cognitive Decline

Dementia

Depression

Falling

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Overview

• What is hearing loss?

• The cost of untreated/undertreated SNHL.

• What you can do with your clients and family.

• The role of the audiologist and knowing where

to refer your clients.

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Review: Types of Hearing Loss

• Conductive hearing loss resides in the outer

and/or middle ear.

• Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is in the

cochlea and/or auditory nerve.

• Mixed hearing loss is a combination of the

two others.

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Phonak.com

• Presbycusis (age-related SNHL) is

characterized by gradual onset, symmetric,

high-frequency SNHL, usually it is primarily

cochlear in nature. The term “Nerve hearing

loss” is not very accurate.

•Other sources of SNHL can have very similar

or very different configurations (symmetry, high

vs low pitch, etc) and timeline of progression

compared to Presbycusis.

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Root causes of adult-onset SNHL: • Vascular conditions • Autoimmune and viral origins • Noise damage • Blow to the head • Ototoxicity; www.earservsecure.com/drugs. • Age-related mitochondrial decline

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Sensory cells of the Cochlea do not regenerate on their own.

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60% of Americans over the age of 60 has a hearing loss.

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Hearing Loss is often invisible to the individual

as well as healthcare providers and employers.

Because: • Slow, insidious onset is most common – we adjust. • It looks very much like dementia/cognitive decline OR that the person is intentionally ignoring others. • Denial is a powerful thing. • People think it is “normal aging” and that nothing can be done.

Untreated adult onset hearing loss:

• Reduced income

• Increased fall risk later in life

• Increased risk of dementia (greater risk with

more hearing loss)

• Decreased brain size and function (well

beyond auditory regions)

• Increased risk of depression and isolation

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Even when corrected for age.

What can health advocates do?

• Model and coach effective communication

strategies.

• Refer for quality medical and audiologic care.

• Be prepared to address the issue of cost.

• Counsel patients on importance of treating

hearing loss to promote follow through and

prevention of further decline.

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Effective communication methods:

• Face people – they use visual cues.

• Do not yell - project from the diaphragm.

• Articulate and slow down - don’t over do it.

• Rephrase instead of repeating.

• Reduce background noise.

• Get closer to the person.

• Ask what is most helpful for them.

See my video blog for more on this.

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What audiologists do:

• Diagnose, educate, refer for medical eval.

• Counsel pt’s and families on communication,

relationship skills, self-advocacy, managing

discomfort and frustration.

• Understand, recommend, and manage ongoing

support for their hearing loss –

Hearing Aids and other technology.

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Setting expectations for clients: • Medicare does not cover hearing aids.

• Affordable alternatives – smart phone apps, low cost

hearing aids, amplified phones, etc.

• Stress the importance of communication skills –

hearing aids alone DO NOT cure hearing loss.

• Send the patient to an Audiologist for a hearing test to

start – big-box store may not be best for them.

• **Their doctors may not know the importance of

treating hearing loss or where to refer them.**

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1) Leaving HL untreated can lead to

serious issues we would never think of.

2) Age related hearing loss can be

effectively treated.

3) You have a VERY important role.

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https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publicat

ion/hearing-loss

www.vestibular.org

www.cochlea.org

www.linresearch.org/

www.HearingAlly.com/blog

Links

Thank You!

Email me with questions + feedback:

info@hearingally.com

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Thank You!

• We welcome your feedback! Questions? Comments? Contact us at info@washaa.org

• Our previous webinars are available for viewing. Please go to www.washaa.org

About WASHAA

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Excellence Professionalism

Collaboration Inclusiveness

VISION

We seek to revolutionize how people view their health by transforming patients into empowered and active partners in their health care.

MISSION

The Washington State Health Advocacy Association (WASHAA) is dedicated to promoting health advocacy in WA State, empowering patients and improving health care outcomes.