LM102 - Cognitive Screenings in Hearing Health Care

Abstract:
Audiology, hearing, listening, cognition, vision, language, psychology and amplification are vastly interwoven. Each interacts with and influences the others. In this presentation, we' shall review the vast interactions from a peer-reviewed clinical sciences approach and we shall specifically propose and address TYPE ONE (auditory-based), TYPE TWO (non-auditory based) and TYPE THREE (mixed) communication disorders, as well as the importance of working with a multi-disciplinary team (SLPs, MDs, family, significant others) and appropriate referral protocols. We will explore how to integrate cognitive screenings into an audiology-based practice to provide patient-centered, holistic care to the patient.

Summary:
As the relationships between Hearing Loss and SupraThreshold Listening Disorders (STLDs) have been highly associated and correlated with mild cognitive impairment and neurocognitive disease (NCD), the pragmatic and essential use of cognitive screeners has significantly increased. Cognitive screenings have become important tools in many health care professions. Audiologists, otolaryngologists, hearing aid dispensers, optometrists, ophthalmologists, speech-langauge pathologists and other licensed health care professionals are finding and reporting clinically useful cognitive screening information, results and outcomes, while diligently referring for diagnostic evaluations, treatments and behavior modifications based on non-normative cognitive screener results, when given a higher index of suspicion.

This Learning Module will review clinically relevant issues and concerns, including the following:

1. Why perform a cognitive screening?
2. Who is a candidate for a cognitive screening?
3. Which screeners are available?
4. What are the pros and cons of various types of screeners for people with hearing loss and STLDs?
5. How much time does it take to screen a patient/client?
6. What do we do with the information gained?
7. How does cognitive screening impact my clinical protocols?
8. What do we know about amplification and cognitive screeners?
9. How can a cognitive screener impact the trajectory of the patient's QOL?
10. Can behavior modifications significantly impact the risk of dementia?
11. How to program hearing aids for patients/clients with mild cognitive impairment and neurocognitve disorders?
12. Scope of Practice and more.

The integration of cognitive screenings into multiple healthcare disciplines and professions allows the clinician to identify potential cognitive disorders sooner, which facilitates an earlier professional diagnostic test and diagnosis and treatment. These issues are very important for each of us as NCDs which are diagnosed and treated earlier present a better opportunity to positively alter the patient's trajectory.

The latest updates on digital diagnostic bio-markers and pharmaceuticals designed to delay or reverse NCDs will be reviewed and discussed in detail with supporting PDFs and references provided.

A question and answer period will be provided.