A Mixed Methods Study of Hearing Loss, Communication, and Social Engagement in a Group Care Setting for Older Adults.
Sara K Mamo, Kara A Wheeler, Vicki L Plano Clark and 1 others
PMID 36340585WHAT IT FOUND
Most older adults in two day care programs had untreated hearing loss and reported isolation, yet valued the center as a social outlet.
Staff relied on small groups, familiar seating, and amplification to support conversation.
Key findings
01Nearly 70% of participants had at least mild hearing loss, but only 10% were current hearing aid users.
02Loneliness was not associated with measured better-ear hearing threshold, but was associated with perceived hearing handicap.
03Participants and staff reported that small-group activities and microphone amplification made hearing easier.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Only two PACE organizations were studied, and the paper says there are 141 PACE programs in the United States, so transferability is limited. The study did not test or interview people with moderate or severe dementia or their families, so the communication needs of that group are missing. Staff focus group participation may have had selection bias, because the paper notes that staff who participated were a selected group. Missing MOST scores were attributed to scores not being saved on the iPad (n = 2) or researcher oversight (n = 2), and all participants with missing MOST data had chart indication of cognitive impairment. PACE-2 interviews took place when participants were not attending the Day Health Center because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Declared interests
The paper states there are no relevant conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that PACE improves hearing, communication, or loneliness. It is a descriptive case study without a control group or tested intervention. The measured hearing loss was not associated with loneliness in the regression model, and the qualitative findings only describe what participants and staff valued or tried.