I have seen the topic of hearing aids has been discussed here before but seems more to apply to early dementia. LO had mild hearing loss early on but an aid was not desired/refused. It was not a big deal to LO. Now as we hit advanced mixed dementia comprehension has dropped along with speech. It common to hear "I can't hear you" on bad days. Other involved family seem to think it can be fixed but my understanding always was if you do it, do it early. Since hearing is ok on good days I suspect it is more a feeling of being unable to hear due to lack of comprehension. Should we push to try it anyway? If we do and I am correct, is it only going to increase frustrations? Can it even be learned to use them later in dementia? LO is totally unable to accept or understand anything is wrong, denies dementia despite memory care being required. It has been asked by his care providers but seems to keep getting skirted. Should we let it go? Or keep on them for an answer? Any input on anyone else's experiences for later stage would be greatly appreciated. I just want to feel sure we are doing the right thing either way.
If I was you, I would ask LO if they would like to explore hearing aids. If they say yes, proceed. If they say no, let it go.
A this point, it is about LO's comfort and happiness. Don't force anything on them unless their personal health and safety is at risk. They need every bit of decision making autonomy they can maintain.
Praying for you and your LO.
So I took Mom to an audiologist, and she did have mild hearing loss, so we bought her some hearing aids and went to all the appointments to get them fitted and adjusted, etc. It took a bunch of appointments because my mom has tiny ears, and the aids just would not stay in. But we kept at it until finally they fit just right. They definitely helped Mom hear better, but I did not notice any improvements in her cognition. She just kept getting worse like she had been before we got the hearing aids.
Mom did okay at first with changing the batteries, but she broke the hearing aids multiple times--dropping them, pulling too hard on the tiny wires, setting something down on them, etc. So every couple of weeks we had to go back to the audiologist to get them repaired.
After a while, she forgot that she had to change the little filters that get clogged with ear wax. The she started changing the batteries, sometimes 10 times a day, because she couldn't hear through the clogged filters.
Then she started regularly misplacing one or both hearing aids, and I was forever searching for them.
The hearing aids had become their own special source of stress and anxiety. Eventually, I just gave up. It wasn't worth the struggle.
Do you realize how long 3 minutes is, especially to an elderly person? Whoever decided that this type of battery was the best for hearing aids, obviously did not have experience with elderly people and their lack of patience.
My Mom did lose one of her hearing aids when she went to senior day care. It was a no frills, in the ear, battery powered type. It still cost over $1100 to replace it.
In MC, just about a month ago, the aid fell out of her ear and into the toilet. The caregiver fished it out and it seems to be operating fine. However, I decided to get insurance for $355 which allows for one-time replacement after a co-pay of $270. It is still less than the $1100 that I paid 2 years ago.
Since she still has trouble understanding, even with the hearing aid, I'm questioning whether all the hassle is worth it.
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/new-study-links-hearing-loss-with-dementia-in-older-adults
Giving a person hearings aids, or even only one side, does not guarantee that they will listen unless they want to. In addition, the ability to process what the hearing aid now allows them to hear, changes; if a person is rested, they can process, if a person is tired, the brain has to work harder to make out the words. Louder is not the answer either since most hearing aids will reduce amplification if the volume is in the range to damage the ear.
Hearing aids block the air coming into the ear canal, so that "normal" ear discharge (ear wax) is blocked. If the battery goes out, the hearing aid will muffle any sound further. My Mom can't tell if her battery is out or not. I can tell because she doesn't react appropriately. Then you have to look at keeping track of them and ensuring they are charged, plus maintenance of the hearing aids.
Most/all aids correct for frequency. For instance, if you had trouble hearing treble in the past, the hearing aid will help you hear the treble. For me, since I did not hear treble well throughout my adult life, the move to hearing aids and the hearing the treble, just wanted me to take them out. Did I mention that music through hearing aids does not sound correct? It is a universally known issue. In a group setting, I'm lucky if I get 50% of the conversation. Anyone who has hearing aids does a fair amount of guessing as to what is being said. Many times, we guess wrong, because we are incapable of understanding the words or we misinterpret the words and what is being said..
Another option lightly mentioned earlier that worked well for me with my Mom, for those times when we (caregiver) had to talk softly, was to use a personal amplifier. One talks in the microphone and it goes to the ear bud(s)/headphone. Since my Mom had her full range of hearing, just not loud enough, this worked well for doctor's offices, hospitals, etc. Pocket Talker by Williams Sound . I used it when I was doing one-on-one counselling, and I can use it for TV. There is less distortion of the sound frequencies, however, there is the nuisance of the wires. Also, the personal amplifier picks up when multiple people are talking at the same time.
What really works the best is to write and/or speak slower, use short sentences and 1 or 2 syllable words. For a long time, my Mom couldn't listen to the TV, however, she could follow along with the captions. Now her mental capacity is that she cannot read fast enough nor remember the words in context. Her PCP communicates with her via typing on a large screen, she reads it, then verbalizes the answer.
At my Mom's most recent stay at the hospital, major communications was done via writing on a paper towel. However, some of the nurses aides could not be bothered and it was brutal for my Mom. I put her hearing aids in, and she couldn't make out the words, even though they spoke slower. This is where having an advocate is a necessity.
...oh and did I mention that hearing aids are not completely covered by insurance and NOT covered by Medicare?
If your LO does not seem bothered about the lack of being able to hear, I'd question spending the money on hearing aids. However, for you and your peace of mind, I would check into a personal amplifier and see if that doesn't help you communicate with your LO.
Just my opinion. I'm into my 4th year of hearing aids and I'm still working on getting better hearing. This has been a frustrating journey.
* I would likely draw pictures /
- Something like sign language (happy faces)
- Glass = water ?
* Facial expressions
- Smile more
- rely on visual communication 'more'
* Focus on touch / gentle massage
I will read what others have said.
Thank you for posting / asking. I will learn something.
Gena / Touch Matters
Not sure if he isn’t hearing or isn’t comprehending . Not sure that this is helpful to your question .
Adding any level of aging and dementia (aging being when most hearing loss occurs) makes everything more problematic. Given those of us who lived the 60s-rock are just now understanding the distress of those times on our hearing, I suspect there is going to be a good deal of thought given to hearing aids.
I would say the most common problem is that the newer devices demand some level of being adept at the 21st century tech to adjust the aids (often done by smart phone these days). The more old-fashioned ones (if you will) can be lost frequently, and are. And if you lose the new ones that can be fairly costly.
I would discuss this with a doctor adept at treating the elderly. There may be experimentation on what works and a learning curve involving what doesn't.
I have little hearing in my right ear at this point. I am 81. I am certain I am somewhat more annoying than usual with the "whattttt"s. But in my own mind I currently hear a good deal more than I would like to, so I am not going for aids. My 82 year old partner still can handle high tech,and has aids, and uses only for TV as he doesn't like how they work to filter in public. So that's personal input.
I wish you good luck on your own journey.
My 91 year old sister suffers from severe hearing loss that was only helped with hearing aids. She basically refused to wear them from beginning 7 years ago. She soon began to have ever increasing dementia. As a family we gave up on pushing her to wear her aids. Within a year she showed early dementia and today is in a memory care ALF.
Is this science? Apparently this is a question. All I know is that her inability to converse unless she is around those of us willing to speak loudly has left her socially isolated. This has left this brilliant woman even more unable to process what is going on. Life is more confusing for her.
I have diabetes and know that no one will allow me to stop tending to this.
How is this different from tending to hearing loss?
This is very educational for me to read.
Sounds like loved one is in memory care? They can do the turning on, putting in charger or changing batteries.
My mom has profound hearing loss; her hearing aids are life savers. Bc they sometimes needed to be sent off for repair leaving her without them, we got a backup pair.
We are fortunate mom can afford them. She has behind the ear rechargeable battery hearing aids. They are wonderful. We can’t fix dementia but we can fix the hearing loss.
I would recommend getting referrals from local on what providers they use and like.
Good luck!
(loss of hearing aids is also a big issue with dementia patients; inquire if the facility has a system to safeguard them)
From what I have read (but I cannot recall the source) it's bad for the brain not to have hearing aids. This is a major purchase. We have tried both the franchises which are astronomical with a $500 rebate from health insurance carrier ($5,000-500= you pay $4,500). Plus, they don't last forever. About 5 years or so and then you need a new pair because the repairs is like putting good money after bad. Yes, you can insure these. But, once they are paid up there is no more insurance.
Fast forward today, now go to an Audiologist who charges 1/2 that. Batteries some come in the mail but for a period of time or you can buy on Amazon.
When you mother goes out in the ambulance, the prescription list should be on the refrigerator with info on the top: Patient wears hearing aids, has Dementia...is on a blood thinner, etc. When your loved one arrives at the ER they are going her who is the President of the U.S. If you don't have your hearing aids in, plus you have the bright lights, you can't sleep, noise and a shift change.
But, are you going to buy the hearing aids and a 1/2 hour later, one is missing in action? It's your call. It's a hard situation depending upon the cognitive skills of your mother. My mother has hers on the breakfast table each and every morning. She calls them her jewels. I have them cleaned, tested, new batteries.
I know it's hard but to reiterate I have hearing aids because I remember reading, it's not good if info doesn't get to the brain. I am in my late 50's, I lost my hearing due to Lyme Disease. I do have a bit of vanity so I have the one's that go inside the canal, plus I work online and have to wear a headset. The Veteran's also has a program but your mother really needs to be tested and fitted. A good audiologist could make recommendations. I check Mom's case every night along with the partial plate in a bowl (the dentist could be another whole forum).
I hope I was of some help to you...I will pray for you.
I will add that hearing aids are now available at much more reasonable prices, and with factual research, they can be found.
Costco, ZipHearing, just to name a couple sources for decent lower priced hearing aids, AND a GERIATRICS trained audiologist (hard to find, but worth the effort if one is available)can mean a Quality of Life difference.
Geriatric audiology is not the same as the “remediation” of hearing loss in other populations. As has been stated here in other posts, there is actually good FACTUAL RESEARCH about the use of amplification for patients with dementia. No miracle cures, but get the facts.
Ireland, for you, if you happen to be in the US, check out OTC hearing aids. I was recently surprised by that topic, and you may be too.
The research I’ve seen indicates many sources to the contrary.
I agree with others that it *could* be a comprehension issue... but it is totally possible he actually does have bad hearing.
You can't push anything if he won't/can't take the test, can't afford them, won't wear them.
Forcing the aides will only cause more confusion and upset to all involved.
I would say that most of the problem comes from not being able to process what is being said. I walked in on 2 student nurses trying to explain to my Mom something they were going to do. I could tell by Moms face she had no idea what they were saying. I told them "you lost her on the first word". You need to make sure you are looking at ur LO in eye use just enough words to get across what u are trying to say. I got to the point that Mom ordering something at the Diner was a chore. So, I gave her 2 choices. Then it went to me ordering what I knew she liked. Just make it short and sweet.
Try the aides but if she is not used to wearing them, she probably will take them out and loose them.