Burkhalter Carmen L, Allen Rebecca S, Skaar Denell C, Crittenden Jessica, Burgio Louis D
Department of Communicative Disorders, University of Alabama, College of Arts and Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0226, USA.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2009 Oct;20(9):529-38. doi: 10.3766/jaaa.20.9.2.
It is currently estimated that the resident population of individuals over the age of 65 living in nursing homes will double by 2020. Nearly one-third of all nursing home residents have difficulty seeing or hearing, 46% have some form of dementia, and 30-84% of those with dementia in nursing homes show some form of agitation. Nursing home residents who do not receive appropriate audiological services may experience social isolation, cognitive decline and decreased mobility.
To examine the effectiveness of standard audiological testing procedures for nursing home residents and to discuss the purpose of adapting assessment procedures that can lead to more effective audiological assessments for this population.
A retrospective chart analyses. A 33-item coding form was used to complete descriptive analysis of original audiological data and demographic data for 307 nursing home residents for a study to examine the effects of auditory stimulation on dementia-related behavior problems exhibited by nursing home residents through audiotape exposure to environmental sounds or soothing voice.
Although 77% (n = 235) of the 307 residents were considered compliant for the testing process and 74% (n = 288) tolerated putting on headphones, audiological assessment using air conduction testing could be completed in both ears on 32% (n = 100) of the residents. In fact, only 5% (n = 16) of the 307 residents were able to complete a full traditional audiometric assessment protocol.
Proper identification of hearing impairment through effective and appropriate audiological assessment is crucial for preserving and enhancing quality-of-life in nursing home residents. This study served as an introduction to the problem of using traditional behavioral testing for hearing assessment of nursing home residents. Much work needs to be done to establish best practices for audiometric assessment in this population.
据目前估计，到2020年，居住在养老院的65岁以上常住居民数量将翻倍。近三分之一的养老院居民存在视力或听力问题，46%患有某种形式的痴呆症，养老院中30%至84%的痴呆症患者表现出某种形式的躁动。未接受适当听力服务的养老院居民可能会经历社交隔离、认知能力下降和行动能力减退。
研究标准听力测试程序对养老院居民的有效性，并探讨调整评估程序的目的，以实现对该人群更有效的听力评估。
一项回顾性图表分析。使用一份33项编码表格，对307名养老院居民的原始听力数据和人口统计学数据进行描述性分析，该研究旨在通过让居民听录音带中的环境声音或舒缓的声音，来检验听觉刺激对养老院居民痴呆相关行为问题的影响。
尽管307名居民中有77%（n = 235）被认为能配合测试过程，74%（n = 288）能耐受戴上耳机，但在32%（n = 100）的居民中，双耳均可完成气导测试的听力评估。事实上，307名居民中只有5%（n = 16）能够完成完整的传统听力测试方案。
通过有效且适当的听力评估正确识别听力障碍，对于维护和提高养老院居民的生活质量至关重要。本研究介绍了使用传统行为测试对养老院居民进行听力评估时存在的问题。要为该人群建立听力测试的最佳实践，还有很多工作要做。
