The use of deaf-aid communicators in a Salford Hospital: a failure of communication?

It is estimated that 7.5 million adults in the UK have varying degrees of hearing loss. People with hearing deficits often feel isolated, neglected and can be mistakenly labelled as confused. Responding to this need, ten deaf-aid communicators were purchased for our elderly-care wards. It however became apparent that the aids were being under-used, and to test this observation a survey of ten elderly-care wards was undertaken. Fifty-six nurses were questioned about their knowledge and use of the communicators. Only 32% knew the communicators were on their ward. Of these 32%, only 61% knew where the aids were kept and only five nurses had ever used the communicators. Only one original, functioning communicator was found and over 50% of the machines could not be recovered. The possible reasons for the failure of this initiative are discussed and lessons drawn. Similar surveys in other hospitals and general practice would be useful to determine the level of service offered to patients with hearing impairments and to provide a basis for future audit.