The Impact of Hearing Loss on Quality of Care
The article “Hearing Loss: Effect on Hospice and Palliative Care Through the Eyes of Practitioners,” discusses the impact of hearing loss (HL) on the provision of quality palliative care. The researchers conducted a survey among 510 hospice and palliative care practitioners, focusing on the experiences and challenges related to HL and its impact on care delivery. The results showed that 91% of respondents reported HL had some or a great impact on the quality of care provided, and 88% encountered situations where HL impaired communication with older adults. The key findings revealed that HL affects care by disrupting the identification, assessment, and treatment of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual symptoms. This study calls for HL to be formally addressed in programs designed to develop communication skills in sensitive conversations and suggests screening for HL, using practices that facilitate comprehension, and using assistive listening devices as needed.
Source:
Wallhagen, M.I., Ritchie, C.S., Smith, A.K. (2019). Hearing loss: Effect on hospice and palliative care through the eyes of practitioners. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 57(4), 724-730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.12.340