Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021 May;69(5):1190-1198. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17073. Epub 2021 Mar 9.
The high prevalence of hearing loss among older adults creates a perception that it is simply a benign consequence of aging, which leads to unaddressed communication needs. Strategies to address hearing loss as part of routine clinical care are pertinent to the geriatric care setting where hearing loss is prevalent in two out of every three patients 70 years and older. Our objectives are to briefly discuss the pathophysiology of hearing loss, describe the epidemiologic prevalence and impact, identify statutory barriers facing older adults in accessing hearing care, discuss current progress on legislation to address accessibility issues, and provide actionable strategies for addressing hearing loss as a barrier to effective communication. Simple steps can be taken to improve hearing care accessibility for older adults with hearing loss and can optimize understanding in daily communication, re-engage patients in being actively involved in their care, and promote patient autonomy in informed decision- making.
老年人听力损失的高发率导致人们普遍认为听力损失只是衰老的良性后果，从而导致未满足的沟通需求。将听力损失作为常规临床护理的一部分的策略与老年护理环境有关，在该环境中，每 3 个 70 岁及以上的患者中就有 2 个存在听力损失。我们的目标是简要讨论听力损失的病理生理学，描述其流行病学的流行程度和影响，确定老年人在获得听力保健方面面临的法定障碍，讨论解决可及性问题的立法的最新进展，并提供解决听力损失作为有效沟通障碍的可操作策略。可以采取一些简单的措施来改善有听力损失的老年人的听力保健可及性，并优化日常沟通中的理解，重新让患者积极参与自己的护理，并促进患者在知情决策中的自主权。
