New methodology to help seniors with hearing loss

Socialálníservices in Vysočina will be newly used in working with clients with hearing loss; methodology, which was developed by the Polytechnicá College Jihlava on the basis ofáááá in specificéá homes for the elderly. The new methodology was introduced at the Blýá&ní conference Blý&n´ for better&scaron&í times in solving&scaron&ení hearingý defects of the elderly, which will take place on 16. ofárowí 2021 in VšPJ building.

The specificáln´ methodology, whicháwillábeáusedáprimarilyáinátheáHome& Jeřabina Pelhřimov, Home Nové Syrovice and Home for the elderly Lesnov, is oneáofátheástages&of&the&project&strong>„Nové přímethods and technologies in the field of diagnosis and correction of hearingýdefects in seniors in residentialýfacilities of women social services“ supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic. The project has theá ambition to change theá generalá perception&thatá hearing&loss&is&a&normal&part&ofá seniorá life;age, as well as the current practice, in which attention is paid to young people and people of productive age.

The standardizedé methods and procedures, whiché methodology bringé &scaron& í, are focused especially on individualé lní plánewání course of service for the user with hearing impairment, fromásets of communication with clients or help with theáváním of hearing aids. Part of theá methodology is theé procedure ofá orientation&assessment&of&the&existence&ofá hearing&impairment&byá mobile&application,&which&is&one&of&the&other&stages&of&theý&project.

The work on the project took, even with the right measurement, four years. Due to the multidisciplinaryárnínature of the project, aánumberáofáprofessionals in differentáfieldsábecame&a partáofátheásolutionáitel. „The„firstí wešlenka wasšla from the workers of the Jeřabina Pelhřimov Home. They had the greatest&scaron&scaroné experience in givené area and since 2014 they have been cooperating with phoniatrist MUDr. Olga Bendova, who has been involved in the project, for example, in the evaluation of the results of the screening of hearing impairment, “ uvádí Mgr. Jana Gabrielová, PhD., from the Department of Socialální práce VŠPJ, whoá asátor of the project was in charge of coordinating the worká in the developmentá and finalization of the methodology. „In the creation of the methodology had the biggestší underí the head of the department of socialální práce Mgr. Markéta Dubnová, PhD., whoá based on theá discussion with the members of theá itelské team elaborated itsá ná top. Doc. Ing. Zbyněk Bureš, Ph.D., from the Department of Technicalých Studiesý atŠPJ, whoý is responsible for the project theátop, implementation and testání mobileí application, poté added to the methodology information on the set-up and use of theí measuringí apparatus and measurementí procedures,“ adds Dr. Gabrielá.

illustrative´ photo

An important part of theástí workí on the project was šetrení in homes for the elderly, whiché probíhalo; in two fázích. „At the beginning of the project in 2019, hearingýimpairment screening and question  &scaronéetren&; quality of life and cognitive functioní in 100 clients of cooperatingí social´ services. On the basis of theýobservations, 40 clients with detected hearing impairment were selected forýinitialý phoniatricé or audiologicalé evaluation. Aá set& ofá examinationsá were thusá recommendedá regardingá hearingá correctioná andá theá useá ofá compensatoryá aids,“ describes Dr. Gabriel. In 2021, a phoniatricé or audiologicalé examinationé is being continuously implemented.

Once approved, the methodology will be freely available on the website of the Ministry of Environment and Social Affairs, as well as to other organisations. Together with the mobile app, the methodology will be presented at the Blýskání for betterší times in solving thešení hearingý impairments of seniors, which will take place on 16th ofáy´ 2021 at the VŠPJ. „The conference will feature, among otherý coordinators from individualý involvedý facilities, who will present their experience ofšTheir experiences with the implementation of the project and the scaron from their perspective their experiences and limitations in particular facilities,“ Dr. Gabrielá. The conference, which is organized by the Polytechnic University of Jihlava in cooperation with the Jeřabina Pelhřimov Home and the Vysočina Region, is intended for all social service providers, academics, and professionals;