The knowledge, experience, and awareness of professionals working with older adults on the auditory-cognitive interactions.

INTRODUCTION

Hearing loss is a commonly occurring condition with dementia. Research already presented a theoretical framework for the auditory-cognitive interactions, though it is still unclear if and how professionals beyond audiologists act upon this interactions in clinical practice.

METHODS

An online 64-item questionnaire was developed and evaluated respondents' work setting as well as their knowledge, experience, and awareness regarding hearing loss, cognitive decline, and the auditory-cognitive link. The questionnaire was sent to Dutch professionals working with older adults. Respondents were surveyed from May to September 2022.

RESULTS

Two hundred and six non-physicians with a mean work experience of 16 years (range: 6 months - 42 years) and 25 physicians with a mean work experience of 13 years (range: 8 months - 42 years) filled in the entire questionnaire. There was a prevailing tendency to treat hearing and cognitive impairment as distinct entities, overlooking their coexistence and interactions. Results also showed a deficiency in assessing the hearing and cognitive status of older adults, with most relying on the older adult's self-report or indirect (non)verbal cues. Those strategies are strongly dependent on the professional's awareness and knowledge which were, especially for the hearing-related aspects, considered limited. For example, effortful listening was barely reported by the respondents as an important hearing-related complaint. Last, communication strategies fall short, with professionals adapting general approaches but lacking specificity.

CONCLUSION

Specific information for professionals beyond audiologists regarding the auditory-cognitive interactions as well as guidelines how to acted upon in clinical practice are needed to optimise person-centered care for older adults.