Maplewood partners with Cobourg audiology
Residents receive free hearing tests
Tuesday, November 15, 2005 -- Natalie Miller
Maplewood residents will have access to regular hearing tests as a result of a partnership between the Brighton long-term care home and a local audiology and hearing aid centre.

Maplewood Director of Care Deb Skeaff says the initiative is an important one because residents’ ability to hear impacts their general well-being.

“When your senses are disturbed or not functioning at full capacity, that’s going to impact full quality of life,” says Deb.

“I think it’s going to be a success,” she says of the partnership.

The relationship between Maplewood and Cobourg Audiology and Hearing Aid Centre began when owner Carl Fletcher was in the long-term care home recently on a private consultation with a resident. Carl suggested the idea of holding free regular hearing assessments for residents.

“I thought it was a good opportunity for some of these people,” says Carl.

He notes it’s challenging for residents to travel and often their family members don’t live in town.

Seniors should have their hearing checked every two years because problems can impact their feeling of wellness and ability to communicate with family members. “It’s also instrumental in curtailing dementia and Alzheimer’s,” says Carl. Proper hearing sends clear messages and signals to the brain, he explains.

“It’s an age-related disease,” says Carl about hearing loss. He offers free hearing assessments to people aged 65 and older and also works with other retirement and nursing homes in Cobourg, Port Hope, Brighton and Campbellford – where his other audiology and hearing centre is located.

The first clinic at Maplewood was held Thursday. Carl conducted hearing tests on seven residents. Although Deb has completed basic hearing assessments on residents in the past and was aware problems existed, she says the hearing loss in some residents was more progressed than she had expected. “It was nice to have a test done and know the severity.”

In one case the hearing test determined the root of a problem for one resident who has been very anxious lately. “We had ruled out physiological causes,” says Deb. Turns out, the woman’s hearing aid was broken and emitted a constant buzzing noise in her ear. It was sent for repair.

The hearing assessment clinic is intended to identify hearing loss in residents and provide the opportunity for hearing aids. Carl has also offered to conduct in-services with staff about how to communicate with residents who have impaired hearing and maintenance of hearing aids, says Deb.

“He’s high-energy, resident-focused,” says Deb about Carl.

Deb approached residents’ families to determine if they wanted their loved ones to receive the service. Some residents have already expressed an interest in the next clinic. Deb expects hearing assessment clinics will be held every four to six weeks.