Ms Karen ThomasAudiologist

Bay Audiology

11:00 - 11:55 WS #92: Hearing Loss - Rehabilitation Options and Funding Entitlements

12:05 - 13:00 WS #103: Hearing Loss - Rehabilitation Options and Funding Entitlements

(Repeated)

Hearing Loss: Rehabilitation Options

and Funding Entitlements

Karen Thomas – Audiologist MNZAS

Disclosure Statement

I am employed by Bay Audiology, which is part of the Amplifon Group. We are independent of any Hearing Aid Manufacturer.

CME sessions will not promote products, brands or incentives, and will give a balanced view of all therapeutic options available for good quality patient management.

Information presented is unbiased and based on scientific evidence.

The Hearing System

Hearing Loss

Conductive Hearing Loss

• Wax

• Eustachian tube dysfunction

• Otitis media

• Otosclerosis

• Cholesteatoma

• Ossicular disorders

Hearing Loss –Limits of your ability to communicate

Sensori-neural Hearing Loss

Causes of Permanent Hearing Loss

• Hereditary

• Aging/Presbycusis

(90+ ~ 100%)

• Noise Induced Hearing

Loss (NIHL)

• Ototoxic drugs

• Virus

The Audiogram

Main types of Sensorineural Loss

Presbyacusis

• Over 60 – 1 in every 2 (55%)

• Over 80 – 9 out of 10 (93%)

Noise Induced Hearing Loss

(NIHL)

Cost of Hearing loss

880 350 New Zealanders = 18.9%

• Total cost: $4.9 Bil

• Economic costs 1 Bil

• Loss of well-being 23 130 DALY’s ($3.9 Bil)

• Tinnitus ($3.5 – $7.5 bil in NZ)

Social and economic cost of hearing loss in NZ – National foundation for the deaf

Treatment options

1. Do nothing

2. Hearing Aids (HA)

3. Cochlear Implant (CI)

4. Assistive devices

5. Hearing Therapy

Cost of Treatment options: Nothing

• Communication Difficulties

• Cognitive strain• Frustration and Tiredness

• Depression & Social isolation

• Quality of Life/Overall functioning

• Social and Emotional decline

• Auditory Deprivation

• Economic Implications

Cost of Treatment options: HA

• Amplifies sound

• $1500 - $10 000/ pair• Smaller market

• Human body constraints

• Research and development

Funding options: HA

• Min of Health subsidy

• ACC – 3 500 – 4 500/p.a.

• Funding bands

• Min of Health HA funding – special cases

• War Pensions (Veteran affairs NZ)

• WINZ loan

Cost of Treatment options: CI

• $50 000

• Fully funded

• Children - 2

• Adults – 1 (except..)

• Limited funding – 40/year

• Amplified telephones

• Wireless headphones for TV

• TV Captioning

• Integrated home systems

• CapTel

Cost of Treatment options: Assistive devices

Life unlimited – Free

• Listening strategies:

Hearing dogs :

• $30 000

• NO funding, NO cost to client

Cost of Treatment options: Hearing Therapy

Untreated Hearing Loss

Individuals with mild hearing loss were twice as likely to develop dementia as those with normal hearing.

Dr. Frank Lin, Johns Hopkins University

Self-reported hearing loss is associated with accelerated cognitive decline in older adults; hearing aid use attenuates such decline. Amieva et al; 2015

The difference in age-equivalent to the cognitive reduction associated with a 25 dB increase in hearing loss is 7 years. Lin, 2013

Role of the GP in Hearing Related Issues

• Primary health care provider

• Widespread impact on overall

health, well-being and

independence.

• Promotes healthy ageing

Hearing Loss in General Practice

How can you detect hearing loss in your

patients?

People mumble….

it’s the young people, they talk so FAST

The TV is FINE when it’s the news, but the American programs are

terrible,,,,

I am ok on the telephone, except for accents

When to refer to an Audiologist

• 55+

• Concerns

• Tinnitus

• Unilateral

• Sudden loss

Overall Goal: Healthy Hearing The maintenance of quality of life

by ensuring hearing is not a barrier to social

interactions and communication.

Feel free to contact us for a copy of

the presentation or for any

audiology enquiries:

linda.hartstonge@bayaudiology.co.

nz

Any

Questions?