Background and Aims
Over 65% of adults over 60 years of age experience some form of hearing impairment, often resulting in reduced hearing clarity, disruption to communication efficiency, and subsequent social isolation.
The Project, evaluating deployable hearing assessment technology in a Residential Aged Care Facility (Programme Partner Maroba Caring Communities), combining evidence-based digital hearing testing technology (Sound Scouts) with services provided in a residential aged care facility (RACF), to identify people with hearing loss that is impacting their quality of life. Testing is completed by the resident using an iPad with specified headphones with assistance from
RACF staff.
The importance of identifying and managing an older adult’s declining hearing levels is crucial, as it can minimise social isolation, reduce falls risk and reduce the onset and progress of cognitive decline. Sound Scouts can be implemented into management dashboards to provide staff and carers with the hearing information needed to improve communication with residents. Subsequent prioritisation for referral for access to government funded hearing aid services can also be made.
In addition, impact on the workforce is an important consideration when it comes to identifying people with hearing loss. Providing easy to follow guidance to assist staff in working with older adults with hearing loss, including information such as which ear is the better ear, and degree of hearing loss, can reduce stress and increase workforce efficiency.
What We Did
The Project, led by Sound Scouts HQ Pty Ltd in collaboration with our two partners: Maroba Caring Communities and the University of Newcastle, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of deployable hearing assessment technology within Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs). The co-design process, led by the University of Newcastle, involved staff and residents, and was key in providing feedback for modifying the automated hearing assessment specifically for an elderly population, particularly those with mild cognitive impairments. The Project involved assessing the usability of the existing technology, modifying the software based on feedback, understanding and addressing the implementation challenges and conducting a pilot with 50 residents at Maroba.
Outcomes
The project successfully validated the use of the Sound Scouts digital hearing testing app in an aged care setting. Key outcomes include:
- Validation of a user-friendly hearing assessment tool that caters specifically to senior adults, especially those with mild cognitive decline.
- Improved usability and functionality of the app, informed through the codesign process, resulting in increased reports of ease of use and test compliance.
- Staff reported improved communication with residents after gaining insights into their hearing status (provided by the hearing test app), leading to personalised care adjustments, such as talking to the resident’s better-hearing ear.
- 40% of the residents identified with hearing loss expressed willingness to pursue further hearing assessments, with the aim of reducing communication challenges through accessing hearing aids.
Impact on Aged Care and Workforce
For aged care, the integration of a hearing testing app such as Sound Scouts offers a scalable and accessible solution for conducting regular hearing checks at point of care. No longer do residents need to be referred to services external to the RACF or wait for visiting services.
This improves early detection of hearing loss, which coupled with remediation, is proving to be critical for slowing the onset of cognitive decline and dementia. For the workforce, the technology reduces reliance on resource stretched audiologists, empowering non-clinical staff to conduct hearing assessments in the RACF. The project also provided educational benefits, enhancing staff understanding and management of hearing test results, and hearing-related communication strategies.
Resources Developed
Resources developed during the project include:
An Aged Care Hearing Screening webpage on the Sound Scouts website: Sound Scouts Hearing Screening
This webpage hosts the following documents:
- General Fact Sheet about hearing loss including the signs of hearing loss and why you should check your hearing;
- One-page Resident Instruction Guide that is concise and explains the likely questions the carer will ask and the basic instructions to complete the test
- Instructions for the Supervising Staff including equipment information, guidance on how to run a test and sample reports.
- Implementation and Training Framework (the link is for a PDF download)
The resources have been made freely available for download through the Sound Scouts website and will be disseminated through social media, conferences and ongoing partnerships.
Next Steps
Next steps include broader implementation of the Sound Scouts hearing assessment in aged care facilities and expanding the project in collaboration with Meals on Wheels and Macquarie University to facilitate home-based hearing screening for elderly individuals. Additionally, the outcomes of this project will be submitted for presentation at conferences such as the Audiology Australia Conference in 2025, and partnerships with Hearing Australia will be explored to improve access to hearing services for aged care residents across Australia.
