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Have They Got a Hearing Loss?
Author(s) -
Yeates Sybil
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of the british institute of mental handicap (apex)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1468-3156
pISSN - 0261-9997
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3156.1992.tb00675.x
Subject(s) - interim , hearing loss , audiology , medicine , hearing problems , family medicine , geography , archaeology
This is an interim report on a study funded for four years by the South East Thames Regional Health Authority to look at the hearing status of adults with severe learning difficulties in the Lewisham and North Southwark District. It follows a preliminary paper published in this journal in 1989, when 100 people had been examined. This second paper gives results up to June 1990, when 300 people had been seen. The number of people with a hearing loss requiring amplification was at least 39.6% of the sample, correlating well with results found in the first group. In this study 32% required objective testing, compared with 19% in the smaller group. The problems associated with such testing are discussed. Sixty‐seven hearing aids were issued by the above date. The necessity of good training and motivation in care staff was found to be essential if aids were to be properly used and scarce resources not wasted. It is hoped that this work will lead to a good service for the hearing impaired who also have severe learning difficulties.