It is estimated approximately 10% to 40% of adults with a learning disability have a hearing problem.
The impact of this could include:
- social isolation
- communication difficulty
- poor relationships with carer, family and friends
- challenging behaviours
- poor emotional health and wellbeing
- reduced self-confidence
- limited independency
New places, people, and objects can be daunting. To help reduce anxiety and help visits go as smoothly as possible we have developed easy-read guides.
Please see below for the easy-read guides, it may be helpful to go through these guides to understand what will happen during an appointment and become familiar with the process. Take small steps and do not rush, go at the pace they are comfortable with.
What service can we offer?
We offer a specialist service for adults with complex needs or a learning disability. This includes a hearing assessment and support with hearing aids.
If you are already a patient of ours please contact us directly for an appointment. If you are not a patient of ours then a referral into our service is required, most patients are referred to us by their GP or an Ear, Nose and Throat consultant.
Helpful information for carers and family members
How can I help to prepare for Audiology appointment?
The audiologist will need to look in both ears. If the person dislikes being touched, gently introduce the idea by asking if they are happy for you to stroke their ears. Do this slowly and at their pace so they get used to someone being near their ears.
They may also need to wear headphones during the test. Consider getting the patient used to having things over their ears:
- encourage the person to touch headphones
- introduce wearing headphones
- encourage the person to put the headphones up to their own ears
During a hearing test we may test an individual’s hearing by playing games. We encourage the individual to wait for a sound and then place an object into a bowl upon hearing the sound. You are welcome to practice this before their appointment by asking them to put an object in a bowl every time they hear you say “go”. This can help learning how to wait for a signal and following response.
The key is patience and reassurance. Small steps, repeated over time, will help the individual feel more confident and relaxed.
Useful tips for encouraging the use of hearing aids
Try encouraging the insertion of the hearing aids as part of the individual’s daily routine. Put the hearing aids in when they get up and take them out when they go to bed.
Slowly build up the length of time that the individual wears their hearing aids. Depending on how they take to the aids, you could start with just a couple of minutes several times a day. If this becomes difficult and the aids are being taken out within seconds, have a break and try again later or the next day when you are both feeling more relaxed.
Tips:
- Have something ready to distract the individual, such as their favourite TV program.
- If the individual is removing their hearing aids after loud noises or because their ears hurt, check that the settings on the hearing aids are correct and talk to the audiologist.
- If the individual is struggling with the feel of the hearing aids you could hold the ear moulds in your hand for a couple of minutes before trying to insert them. This makes them warmer and softer and therefore less of a shock when inserted. You can also try inserting the aids before the individual wakes up so that they are already in place. Never leave a person alone with hearing aids if you think they may put them in their mouth. Batteries are very dangerous if swallowed, please contact 999 if you believe a person has swallowed a battery.
- It may also be useful to meet or see others with hearing aids so that the individual can see people wearing aids. Hearing loss representation has increased in the past few years with many TV shows and books showing characters wearing hearing devices.
Batteries
Hearing aids and batteries can pose a choking hazard. Vulnerable adults who may put the hearing aids in their mouth should always be supervised when wearing hearing aids.
When not in use hearing aids should be kept out of the reach of vulnerable adults.
Hearing aids batteries are very dangerous if swallowed therefore tamperproof features are available. This will be discussed with you at the fitting appointment and used if necessary.
If your hearing aids do not have tamperproof features and you feel it would be helpful please contact the Audiology department.
Never leave a person alone with hearing aids if you think they may put them in their mouth.
Batteries are very dangerous if swallowed, please contact 999 and go directly to A&E if you believe a person has swallowed a battery.