Conducting Communicatively Accessible Hearing Screenings for People with Aphasia

By Lisa Samson, MHSc (C) Jo(anne) DeLuzio, PhD

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that impacts expressive and receptive language.¹ More than half of people with aphasia (PWA) suffer from depression one-year post-stroke.² PWA already experience difficulty with communication and therefore it is critical to determine whether they also have hearing loss. Undiagnosed hearing loss could jeopardize the efficacy of intervention and determining the severity of the aphasia. Untreated hearing loss is associated with depression, frustration, and social isolation.^3,4 Consequently, people with both aphasia and hearing loss are at high risk for isolation and depression. For these reasons, PWA should routinely have their hearing screened.

Pure tone screenings identify potential hearing acuity issues, while questionnaires capture the person’s perception of how “handicapped” they feel because of hearing difficulties. However, questionnaires are largely dependent upon language skills, and linguistic complexity may create a barrier for PWA. This is particularly challenging if the healthcare provider is unaware of the competence of the person and does not have the tools and resources for effective interaction.⁵

The Aphasia Institute (AI) is a community based organization that provides services to PWA and their families using Supported Conversation for Adults With Aphasia (SCA™)^6,7 a method designed to facilitate conversations with PWA.⁸ Acknowledging and revealing competence are central to the use of SCA™.^6,7

The purpose of this project was to identify potential hearing loss in PWA at the AI and to provide them with information regarding follow-up. It was also undertaken to determine the feasibility of using a communicatively accessible hearing handicap questionnaire (CAHHQ) with PWA.

Method

Forty-seven PWA (18 female, 29 male) with no previous diagnosis of hearing loss, at the AI, participated in the hearing screenings and consented to use of their information for research purposes. Participants ranged in age from 42–93 years (M = 66 years). Stroke was the cause of aphasia in 86% of cases. Severity of aphasia ranged from mild to severe (8 mild, 10 mild–moderate, 11 moderate, 11 moderate–severe and 7 severe).

All documents were adapted into communicatively accessible format. Since PWA prefer written material that contains graphics,^9,10 pictographic images developed at the AI were used to support the written text. Text consisted of short sentences, large print, and bolded key words (see Appendix A).

The CAHHQ was constructed based on some questions as well as format of the HHIE–S¹¹. Questions used were selected to identify perceived handicap resulting from hearing related difficulties. Nine PWA ranging from mild to severe provided input into the CAHHQ and agreed the final resource was helpful and appropriate.

Eight S-LP students at the University of Toronto administered the screenings and the CAHHQ under supervision of an audiologist and speech-language pathologist. Students were taught SCA™ before the screening was implemented.

Hearing was screened at 25 dB HL at 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz bilaterally using portable audiometers. Participants received either a “pass” or “refer” result. Results were conveyed using SCA™ strategies and participants were provided with a communicatively accessible resource that reiterated results and recommended follow-up information. The resource also provided a means for PWA to share results and initiate discussions with family and healthcare providers.

Results

All participants successfully completed the pure tone screening and CAHHQ. 70% of participants received a “refer” result on the pure tone screening and 30% “passed.” A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted on the age of the participants using pass/refer as the factor. The results were highly significant (F= 7.489. p= .009) indicating that receiving a “refer” result on the pure tone screen was related to age. Results of the pure tone screening were not related to the severity of the aphasia suggesting that participants did not receive a “refer” result because they did not comprehend the task.

To determine whether the total score on the CAHHQ was related to the results on the pure tone screening, an ANOVA was conducted on the total scores using pass/refer as the factor. The results were significant (F = 6.519, p = .01) suggesting that people receiving a “refer” result on the screening perceived themselves as “handicapped” by their hearing.

Discussion

A communicatively accessible hearing screening with PWA ranging from mild to severe was successfully implemented. It is not surprising that 70% of participants received a “refer” result on the pure tone screening, and that a “refer” was related to age. Previous studies have reported prevalence rates of hearing loss exceeding 80% in people 70+ years of age¹² and the average age of participants in the current study was 66 years. Follow-up is needed to determine whether those receiving a “refer” result actually have hearing loss. Given the language difficulties of PWA, successful use of a hearing handicap questionnaire is encouraging.

An important consideration for PWA is that in addition to peripheral hearing loss, they may experience problems with understanding speech in noise, or with other aspects of auditory processing resulting from underlying damage to the cortex.¹³

Using communicatively accessible resources is not just important for screenings, but also for hearing assessments, hearing aid evaluations, and the fitting of amplification. It is critical that the competence of PWA is acknowledged and they are involved in any decision making. Unfortunately, PWA have their competence questioned by healthcare providers,⁵ and health information is frequently provided without consideration of their communication needs.¹⁴ The onus is on professionals to ensure that PWA are not excluded from active participation in the hearing aid uptake process.

The authors acknowledge this was a feasibility study. There was no control group to determine what percentage of PWA could successfully complete the same protocol without use of communicatively accessible materials.

Conclusion

The combined impact of aphasia and hearing loss could result in potentially devastating emotional and social consequences. Hearing screenings should be a routine part of care for PWA. Use of techniques such as those included in SCA™ must be employed in hearing screenings so that PWA can fully participate in the process and have access to all hearing health care services with decision making power.

References

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10. Rose TA, Worrall LE, Hickson LM, and Hoffmann TC. Guiding principles for printed education materials: Design preferences of people with aphasia. Int J Speech-Language Pathol 2012;14(1):11–23.
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Appendix A: Sample of a Pictograph Used