Screening Receptive Communication of Older Adults in Residential Care

Abstract

Receptive communication of 341 older adults was evaluated in 9 nursing homes. The following assessments were conducted: case history, otoscopic examination, visual perception of facial movements, hearing aid function, sentence identification, and ratings of conversational fluency. The majority of clients reported hearing loss and low vision that interfered with their communication. Otoscopic examination revealed that nearly a third of the ears contained excessive cerumen. Visual perception results indicated that nearly all clients could see the clinician's head movements, but that some clients could not see mouth or eye movements. Fewer than half of the clients owned hearing aids, but not all owners used them. Common problems related to non-use of hearing aids included blocked earmolds and dead batteries. Sentence identification and conversational fluency were improved by the use of amplification, but positive results often depended on application of communication strategies by the partner. Recommendations are provided for training staff and caregivers to increase their awareness of client needs and to modify their own behavior for more effective communication with older people.