Older adults with specific communication needs are significantly more likely to experience preventable adverse events and functional decline in hospital. This results in a loss of clarity of speech sounds increasing the volume of the speech may or may not improve the condition. These difficulties are exacerbated in a noisy environment and slowly progresses to loss of hearing sensitivity at lower frequency sound, which makes it harder to understand words in a quieter setting. People with this type of hearing loss tend to exhibit difficulties with speech perception and comprehension because of associated difficulties with high-frequency consonants, which are fundamental for word discrimination, such as distinguishing between words such as “time” and “dime”. Previous quantitative studies have confirmed that presbycusis has a negative impact on clinical communication, across both hospital and primary care clinical settings. It is characterized by decreased hearing sensitivity, especially for high-frequency sound, and most often affects both ears. Presbycusis is sensorineural, meaning the primary damage happens in the hair-like cells within the cochlea or the hearing nerve. This presents a significant challenge in delivering healthcare, as the number of older adults continues to grow. It affects approximately one-third of people aged 65 to 74 and almost half of those over the age of 75. Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), also known as presbycusis, is the second most common illness in aged people worldwide. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders in the USA, hearing loss is ranked as the third most prevalent chronic condition in older adults. Previous studies have also identified hearing loss as a modificable risk factor for cognitive decline. Despite the cause, communicating well with older adults remains a significant challenge for many healthcare providers and is often complicated by sensory impairments and/or cognitive problems. Communication challenges are commonly reported by older people, either due to normal ageing or communication disorders related to various conditions. Interpersonal communication has been described as a critical tool for life adjustment, linking people with their environment. Healthcare providers should be made aware of the hearing issues and associated communication difficulties posed, within the context of the development of patient-centred strategies to improve patient safety. ConclusionĮffective clinical communication can be achieved through a clear understanding of the patient’s perspective. Other helpful strategies include repeat and rephrase, use of written information, providing context, minimizing ambient noise, continuity of care, longer consultation length and good body language. Raising awareness of the impact of presbycusis on clinical interaction among healthcare professionals was cited as being of crucial importance. Older adults with hearing loss identified general mishearing, lack of awareness and use of medical terminology to be the cause of ineffective communication. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis methodology was used to identify themes arising from two main study domains: difficulties faced during the most recent healthcare interaction and suggestions for improving overall healthcare communication. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed using NVivo 12 software. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants. Thirteen participants, attending a support service for older adults with hearing loss in the South of Ireland, were recruited using convenience sampling. This qualitative study focuses on identifying the communication challenges faced by people aged over 65 with ARHL and potential ameliorative strategies based on the participants’ personal experiences. Medical errors are frequently reported because of communication breakdown, especially for patients with ARHL. The prevalence of age-related hearing loss (ARHL) significantly increases in people aged 60 and older.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |