Many people suffer from hearing loss, in particular a large percentage those over 70 will experience some degree of hearing loss that comes on with age. Even if a person has a hearing aid and applies communication tactic’s they may still find it difficult to hear clearly, or make sense of what is said.
How a person with hearing loss communicates will depend on the type of hearing loss they have. It can also depend on whether they use a hearing aid, British Sign Language, lip-reading or a combination of these communication methods.
People with hearing loss may already find it harder to communicate, therefore can experience more difficulty as a result of their dementia. It can add to their confusion if they are unable to hear people speak and know what is going on around them. Effective communication is even more important if the patient suffers from both dementia and hearing loss, as they can experience feelings of social isolation.
Why might communication be more difficult with Dementia?
As the dementia worsens, changes can occur in the parts of the brain that control language and communication. Language problems that may develop will be unique to the individual, and can depend on the type of dementia and the stage it is at. Some days, communication may be better than others. In some forms of dementia, one of the first symptoms noticed is problems with language and communication
Sometimes a person with dementia cannot find the right words and may use a related word or substitute. Other times they may jumble up words and grammar, or not be able to respond at all. Dementia can affect a person’s understanding of what is said or meant. They may have difficulty understanding complex ideas or have slower thought processes, meaning they take longer to respond, or do not respond appropriately.
How do I communicate with someone who has a Hearing Loss and Dementia?
Difficulty communicating can be distressing but there are ways to maintain communication and help the person to express themselves.
Good communication strategies can help everyone but are especially helpful if someone has a hearing impairment and/or dementia. Below are some tips for effective communication.
Communication strategies for patients with Dementia
| Be patient | x Don't cover your mouth and avoid chewing or smoking as speech will be more difficult to understand |
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| Make sure the room is quiet, well-lit and there aren’t many distractions | x Don’t talk too fast or use complex sentences. Make sure the person has understood |
| Face the person you are talking to directly and that your face is well lit so your lip movements can be seen. Don’t talk from another room | x Don’t talk about the person as if they are not there. Try to include them in conversations with others too. This can help reduce feelings of social isolation |
Get the person's full attention before you start by saying their name, or a phrase like “Listen to this”, or by touching their arm
| x Don’t ask too many questions or too complicated questions together |
Make eye contact when speaking and try to be at/ below eye level while communicating
| x Try not to interrupt
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| If the person uses a hearing aid, check that it is inserted correctly and working properly. If you think the hearing aid isn't working or if you need help checking it, speak to hearing services repair line on 0116 258 5120 | x Don’t make sudden movements or tense facial expressions as this may cause upset or distress and can make communication more difficult
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| Speak clearly and and slightly slower than you would normally | x Try not to rush |
| Keep the natural rhythms of your speech and use natural facial expressions | x Don't over exaggerate lip movements |
| Make sure the person knows the topic of conversation at the start | x Avoid sudden changes in topic. If the topic changes tell the person what you are talking about now. |
| If the person doesn’t understand what you’ve said, try saying it in a different way instead of repeating it. Pay attention to the listener, if they look puzzled they may not have understood | |
| Writing things down and visual clues such as objects or pictures can sometimes help | |
| Allow time between sentences for the person to process the information and respond | |
| If possible, phrase questions in a way that allows for yes or no answers, or give a choice such as “Would you like tea or coffee | |
| It is good to be able to recognise what a person is communicating through body language and support them to remain engaged | |
Dementia Friends Programme
The Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.
With many of our staff trained as Dementia friends, as a department we are striving to improve the care of those living with dementia. Within the Hearing Services Department we try to tailor our management for all our patients, and we recognise this is even more imperative for those living with dementia
If you would like to know more about The Dementia Friends Programme please visit the Alzheimer's society website.
Where can I get more support and additional information about dementia and hearing loss from?
Below are organisations that provide additional support and information:
- Alzheimer's society: www.alzheimer's.org.uk
- Dementia UK: www.dementiauk.org
