New hearing aids - challenging

ST_niece

Has anyone else given hearing aids to their LO with dementia?

I had hoped they would improve our communication and experiences, but she complains of “noise.”

When hearing aid is touched, it will produce static (when I put them into her ears, and later, if she puts on a hat, or touches her hair, etc). I remind her that the static is temporary when the hearing aid is touched, but she can’t retain that information, so it upsets her each time.

The audiologist adjusted the hearing aids, and lowered “background noise” at my request. In the audiologist’a office, the setting seemed perfect.

But when we walk outdoors, my LO complains about noise. 

When watching tv, she seems overwhelmed by the sound, no matter how much I lower the volume of the hearing aids. I think she is just hearing the sound as it is meant to be heard (Downton Abbey, her favorite, has lots of activity - groups of people talking, background music, clinking teacups, etc)

I know that it’s hard for people with dementia to adapt to new circumstances. My LO has lived in my house for 4 years and still asks where we are almost every day. 

Should I keep trying with the hearing aids? Maybe only use them if we’re having a few people over? (I had hoped that hearing aids would help her follow group conversations)

Thanks for any input you can offer!

Rescue mom

I got two sets of hearing aids for my mother with dementia. She never used the first set enough to become “accustomed” to them—there was always some issue, they were too loud, they didn’t help/too soft, she didn’t charge them, etc. Then she lost one and broke the other trying to “make it better.” 

When we went for the second pair, the audiologist told me (more tactfully) she thought my mother would get little, if any, benefit from another pair because of her dementia. I got them anyway because I wanted to do everything I could, and I thought it would help in social settings. They did not, she wouldn’t wear them much at all since they weren’t immediately perfect. If I urged/reminded her, she’d put them in, then take out ASAP. 

That money would have been much better spent on lots of other things.

 If I remember right, and what non-dementia friends who got them recently say, it takes maybe 2-3 weeks to “train the brain” on what they’re hearing. Background noise does indeed become magnified—it’s always there but we’ve trained our brains to filter it out. Hearing aids means Re-training, a lot PWDs can’t handle that. On-again, off-again doesn’t usually work.

But maybe it does or has worked for some in different circumstances, different aids. Everybody’s different.

RanchersWife

I haven’t given hearing aids to someone with dementia. My LO didn’t need them and my mother (early stages) won’t get them. However, I have a moderate hearing loss and have worn aids since I was 8. It takes adjustment. Quite a bit. Two years ago I wore my new aids on quiet mode for weeks. I had allowed myself to get down to one poorly functioning hearing aid before buying new ones. I also get auditory fatigue. By the end of the day I’m just worn out. 

I do think that hearing better in the early stages helps cognition. There are studies.

Maybe you can do short periods of time and work your way up to more time. You might have to be pretty religious about it in order to get to full time. There should not be much feedback like squealing. 

My loved one lost her ability to visually process her environment. I’m sure it’s possible to have that happen with hearing. 

Sorry I couldn’t be more help. Just know that most people (old people particularly) don’t like their new hearing aids. I have to advocate very hard for the changes I want in my aids because the providers are very used to trying to make their patients get used to them. They try to do that to me and I have to remind them that I’m not old and I know what I’m taking about when I say I need something changed. 

toolbeltexpert

Rancherswife your right about hearing changes in a pwd. My dwd got hearing aids when I was suspecting something might be going on with her memory. 11 years ago I thought she couldn't remember if she couldn't  hear. She has Ric type hearing aids. She wears them faithfully all day. But lately I could talk till I am blue in the face, she isn't understanding what I am saying it's not a volume thing, it is a comprehension thing.   I am not sure that if I had gotten her hearing aids now she probably wouldn't be able to use them. She has almost stopped using the cell phone and tablet, "they keep changing" which is true with updates. For the last year she has been hearing JET PLANES she will take out the aids to see if the noise goes away but it doesn't, she also complains about tinnitus.

 St_niece I would keep trying, but she's right everything is loud and her perception is always "right" the dirty tricks dementia does to pwd. Some pwd think it cold and to them it is.It can't hurt to keep trying!  Your not alone we do hear you. No pun intended!. Your good to take good care of your family.

harshedbuzz

ST-niece-

Getting used to hearing aids requires a level of cognitive function that is likely beyond the abilities of someone who is asking daily where they are. 

My dad had hearing aids for at least a decade before he developed symptoms of dementia and was compliant with them well into the very later stages of the disease although he did need some assistance in the middle stages of the disease. We even got him brand new state of the art ones about 6 months before he died and he adjusted quite well. 

That said, dad needed hearing aids long before he was talked into them and did report discomfort with ambient sounds in certain settings like restaurants and busy stores- he used to turn them down. My mom, whose hearing tanked last year got hearing aids right away and has not complained about that at all. 

It is likely that group conversations are difficult to follow or even overwhelming. As dad's dementia progressed he got to a point where more than 2 other people were too many people. he'd formerly been life of the party. It changed quickly- he enjoyed his birthday dinner at a table of 6 in July, was tetchy in late August with 5 again in a restaurant, unpleasant with 6 at Thanksgiving at my house with 6 and downright hostile with 6 at Christmas brunch at his home.

He was confused by multiple people talking and insulted when the conversation moved away from him which it did because his input was unfiltered at best. His also resented anyone who distracted my mom (who was starved for conversation) from paying attention to him and would act out. I visited my parents several times a week to check in; I always started by sitting with dad first and bringing him a treat of some sort before spending any time and attention on my mom. I have a friend who cared for her mom at home during a time when her kids were away at college and her husband was traveling 75% of the time for work. She used to have a girls night which her mom initially loved, but over time it overwhelmed her and the "girls" had to take turns visiting one at a time to give mom some one-on-one attention. One friend watched baseball with her, another spoke German with her and when I came we did puzzles. 

HB

ST_niece

Thanks, everyone. Really appreciate your input.

We’re taking a break from them for now.

King Boo

So.......

You are awesome for getting her hearing aids.  Too often, a PWD is not fit - and you never know if you can make an improvement in their hearing.  As hearing loss impacts relationships, socialization and safety - it is very important to try.

I have successfully fit some PWD for their first hearing aids.  And had some unsucessful ones along the way.  Not currently in this focus of practice, but a few things might help:

1.  Is this audiologist experienced with dementia?   Some clinicians are 'gung ho' on the perfect perscription.   A PWD may not be able to tolerate the ideal fitting right away - a beginners, 'first fit' approach is preferrable.  While technically under amplified, it can be an ideal place to start.

2.  A change in style of hearing aid might help.  Some audiologists are one note Annie's, fitting RIC hearing aids or BTE's only.   If hair noise on the microphone of the behind the ear hearing aid is an issue, this can sometimes be lessened by an all in the ear fitting (which has the trade off of occluding some, but.....).   It depends on what the issue is.

3.  Has the hearing aids been fit with a retainer, to guard against loss?   If she has pierced ears, there is a company called Deaf Metal that has some cool options.   Or Huggie Aids to clip on her clothes.

4.  If there is something she enjoys like music, this may help.

5.  Tangible reinforcement can be a tool - let's leave them in for 1 hour/2hours and then we can get ice cream (depends on stage).

6.  Stay within your trial period - if she really cannot wear them, you can start another trial with a different style.

7.  If she enjoys TV, depending on her stage, do a demo with the TV at a normal loudness level.  Put her hearing aids on while watching something pleasant; then take them out.  This can work through mid stage depending on the person.  

jfkoc

They take getting used to. This is true for everyone. Everyone I know has been told to start on the lowest volume, wear all the time and slowly build up.

My audiologist tweaked mine yesterday and I had to turn them down and I have been wearing them for 4+ years.

ST_niece

Thanks!

Yes, she does have the string attachment, to clip the hearing aids to her collar. What a simple, great idea! That part works well. 

And thanks for suggestion of starting at lowest volume and building up. Great suggestion!

I’m contacting my local Alz chapter to ask if they know an audiologist with dementia experience. I should have done that in the first place.