1. Hearing Screening
for Elderly People -
feasible and
enjoyable?
Cernobbio – June 12th, 2010
Dr. Dr. h.c. Monika Lehnhardt
Founder of Lehnhardt Academy and
Chairwoman of Prof. Ernst Lehnhardt-Foundation

2. It is time to pay more attention
to the elderly.
It took a decade of lobbying until in early 2009
neonatal hearing screening was made obligatory
by law in Germany.
In view of an aging population in the majority of
developed countries there would clearly be a need to
introduce hearing screening for this growing part of
the population.
This is particularly important, as the hearing loss is
progressive in many cases and the person affected
tends to accommodate to the situation, tries to
compensate and does not want to admit that
problems in communicating with family members
and friends are due to presbyacusis. Once the loss is
at a stage that the hard of hearing person retires from
social life, it is almost too late for hearing aids
to be really effective.
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

3. Early Identification and Intervention
- from birth to seniority
‣ Despite the fact, that we have statistics about the
high incidence of hearing loss in very young
children and the availability of suitable screening
equipment, the necessity of hearing screening for
children in pre-school age is unfortunately not yet
discussed seriously in many countries.

NHS  HS pre-school
HS elderly 
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

4. The world is aging.
Demographic development on a global perspective
Country Raw Life Shape
Death Rate Expectation
Germany 10,80 / 1000 79,01 yrs
Urn
(2008)
Mexiko 4,78 / 1000 75,84 yrs
Pyramid
(2008)
China 7,03 / 1000 73,18 yrs
Beehive
(2008)
Russia 16,06 / 1000 65,94 yrs
Urn
(2008)
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

5. Hearing Loss is highly associated
with aging
‣ 1 in 5 adults have hearing problems
‣ 1 in 10 would probably benefit from good
intervention
‣ Only 1 in 33 possess a hearing aid, of whom many
(25%) do not use it at all – (and who knows who
benefits?)
‣ ~20 million people in EU aged 55-74 would benefit
greatly from a hearing aid
‣ Only ~2 million use a hearing aid
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

6. Unmanaged sensory impairment is
a major public health problem
‣ 75% of people over 60 have a hearing problem
‣ Mean age of hearing aid users = ~75 y +
‣ Mean age at which consult professional = 72 y
‣ Duration of hearing impairment when 1st consult
= 15 - 20 years
‣ Degree of hearing loss = ~45dBHL
Source: Davis et al 2007
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

7. Motivate elderly
to maintain their hearing
‣ People in the „third trimester“ stay more active and
feel younger, as long as they live self-sufficient
‣ Interaction with their environment and participation
in social life is fundamental for self-esteem and well-
being
‣ Hearing and understanding are fundamental to
„social competence“
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

8. Setting the tone.
Lorin Maazel (80)
Composer and conductor
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

9. Setting the trend.
Sepp Blatter (74)
FIFA President
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

10. Leadership.
Edzard Reuter (82)
CEO Daimler-Benz AG
1987 - 1995
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

11. Carpe diem!
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

12. Hearing Impairment -
frequently not detected
‣ Official hearing screening programs for elderly –
comparable to NHS – do not exist
‣ Shame, fear of cost, lack of personal mobility or
insecurity whom to contact in many cases impede
detection and therapy
‣ The outcome is fatal: Risk of injury through reduced
recognition of warning signals, less ability for dialog,
less social interaction
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

13. The new way:
Mobile!"#$%&"'()'*+,-"%./012 is fun
screening that
!3"%456+,%7-'"",5,8%9+*&+58,
‣
Ambient noise 2009:
Milano
~ 65More than 1,500
dB A
subjects tested
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

14. The new way:
Mobile screening that is fun
‣ Interactive test with portable device
‣ Integrated in activities at homes for
the aged, public facilities (e.g.
libraries) and specialized stores
‣ Reliable results as a basis for
continued examination
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

15. SUN. Speech Understanding in Noise.
The test.
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

16. SUN. Speech Understanding in Noise.
The test.
‣ Three alternative multiple-choice
‣ Set of 12 VCVs in speech-shaped noise
‣ Touch-screen interface
‣ Speech level: User selectable,
decreasing SNR
‣ Result: clear green / yellow /
red score
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

17. SUN. Speech Understanding in Noise.
The hand-held device.
‣ Ultra-mobile
‣ Easy-to-use
‣ Innovative touch-screen
‣ Different programs for
different target groups
within one single device
‣ High connectivity for
automated processing
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

18. SUN. Speech Understanding in Noise.
Summary.
‣ Very high acceptance by
target group and test staff
‣ Enthusiastic participation
through playful approach
‣ Reinforcement effect if done
together with partner
‣ Encourages subject to seek
treatment
Enjoyable!
www.monika-lehnhardt.net

19. Now it is your turn!
Download and look up my presentation at
www.monika-lehnhardt.net
and write a comment
Find more detailed information about SUN at
www.pathme.de
Do you have any ideas about adult hearing screening,
new strategies and technologies?
Please share them with us at
www.monika-lehnhardt.net
www.pathme.de
Thank you!
www.monika-lehnhardt.net