Audiology and mental health staff team up to improve dementia care

Audiologists have teamed up with mental health professionals to improve support for people with dementia.

Staff from audiology services in Bury, Oldham and the Rochdale borough, which are part of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, received support and training from colleagues working in the local memory clinic service to help increase their knowledge of dementia.

The partnership means audiologists are now able to include memory screening questions as part of hearing assessments and refer patients who may be showing dementia symptoms to memory clinics for further assessment.

The training was developed after research showed people with hearing loss were more likely to experience a delay in being referred for dementia assessments than those with full hearing.

As a provider of community and mental health services, Pennine Care staff are perfectly placed to share expertise with colleagues to ensure patients get the right support for both physical and mental health needs.

Deborah Rose, Pennine Care’s audiology lead, said the new approach was already showing promising results.

She said: “One of our patients had some memory testing with her GP two years ago which had shown no problems but she was becoming increasingly concerned about her memory.

“During a visit to the audiology clinic she mentioned her concerns and staff conducted a test before contacting the Memory Clinic for further tests carried out on the same day.”

The new partnership has also benefited Memory Clinic staff who have been given training to better understand hearing difficulties and how to refer to audiology services.

This has led to the clinics making more adaptations for patients with hearing loss such as offering longer appointments, different types of assessments and providing specialist equipment such as hearing loops.

Helen Lilley, Pennine Care’s Mental Health Lead for Whole Person Care, said the partnership was part of the Trust’s commitment to whole person care.

She said: “Early diagnosis is vital for people suspected of having dementia so they can get the very best treatment and support.

“By sharing knowledge and skills between our memory clinics and audiology services we’re making sure our patients get the right physical and mental health support.”