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Review
. 2022 Jul-Aug;43(4):1089-1102.
doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001174. Epub 2021 Dec 23.

Hearing Assessment and Rehabilitation for People Living With Dementia

Piers Dawes  1   2 , Jenna Littlejohn  1 , Anthea Bott  3 , Siobhan Brennan  1   4 , Simon Burrow  5 , Tammy Hopper  6 , Emma Scanlan  7
Affiliations
Review

Hearing Assessment and Rehabilitation for People Living With Dementia

Piers Dawes et al. Ear Hear. 2022 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Hearing impairment commonly co-occurs with dementia. Audiologists, therefore, need to be prepared to address the specific needs of people living with dementia (PwD). PwD have needs in terms of dementia-friendly clinical settings, assessments, and rehabilitation strategies tailored to support individual requirements that depend on social context, personality, background, and health-related factors, as well as audiometric HL and experience with hearing assistance. Audiologists typically receive limited specialist training in assisting PwD and professional guidance for audiologists is scarce. The aim of this review was to outline best practice recommendations for the assessment and rehabilitation of hearing impairment for PwD with reference to the current evidence base. These recommendations, written by audiology, psychology, speech-language, and dementia nursing professionals, also highlight areas of research need. The review is aimed at hearing care professionals and includes practical recommendations for adapting audiological procedures and processes for the needs of PwD.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
The VIPS model for person-centered dementia care and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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