Omar, R;
Kuo, L;
Costafreda, SG;
Hall, A;
Forbes, M;
O'Brien, JT;
Schilder, AGM;
(2023)
Managing comorbid cognitive impairment and hearing loss in older adults: a UK survey of audiology and memory services.
Age and Ageing
, 52
(5)
, Article afad080. 10.1093/ageing/afad080.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: midlife hearing loss is a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia. Addressing comorbid hearing loss and cognitive impairment in services for older adults may offer opportunities to reduce dementia risk. OBJECTIVE: to explore current practice and views amongst UK professionals regarding hearing assessment and care in memory clinics and cognitive assessment and care in hearing aid clinics. METHODS: national survey study. Between July 2021 and March 2022, we distributed the online survey link via email and via QR codes at conferences to professionals working in National Health Service (NHS) memory services and audiologists working in NHS and private adult audiology services. We present descriptive statistics. RESULTS: 135 professionals working in NHS memory services and 156 audiologists (68% NHS, 32% private sector) responded. Of those working in memory services, 79% estimate that >25% of their patients have significant hearing difficulties; 98% think it useful to ask about hearing difficulties and 91% do so; 56% think it useful to perform a hearing test in clinic but only 4% do so. Of audiologists, 36% estimate that >25% of their older adult patients have significant memory problems; 90% think it useful to perform cognitive assessments, but only 4% do so. Main barriers cited are lack of training, time and resources. CONCLUSIONS: although professionals working in memory and audiology services felt addressing this comorbidity would be useful, current practice varies and does not generally address it. These results inform future research into operational solutions to integrating memory and audiology services.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Managing comorbid cognitive impairment and hearing loss in older adults: a UK survey of audiology and memory services |
| Location: | England |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1093/ageing/afad080 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afad080 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | audiology, cognition, dementia, hearing loss, older people, survey, Humans, Aged, Audiology, State Medicine, Hearing Loss, Cognitive Dysfunction, Dementia, Comorbidity, United Kingdom |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > The Ear Institute UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry > Mental Health of Older People |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10172067 |
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