Hearing access 2000. Increasing awareness of the hearing impaired.

Because 90% of all institutionalized elderly have a hearing impairment, nurses in long-term care facilities need to improve the care of the hearing impaired patient and contribute to increasing communication access. The purpose of the Hearing Access 2000 program is to make public facilities more accessible by increasing awareness of the needs of the hearing impaired. Implementation of the program includes an inventory of hearing aids, staff in-service programs, use of assistive devices, otoscopic examinations, cerumen removal protocol, and the use of tent cards, buttons, and posters.