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TRANSCRIPT
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!
• We welcome your feedback! Questions? Comments? Contact us at [email protected]
• Our previous webinars are available for viewing. Please go to www.washaa.org
About WASHAA
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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.