Investigation for effects of nursing intervention using a directional speaker on clinical symptoms of dementia patients with hearing loss : First report.

Abstract

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate effects of nurses’ intervention using a directional speaker, on clinical symptoms of dementia patients with hearing loss.　Methods : Subjects were four hospitalized dementia patients with hearing loss who gave their consent.　Patients’ cognitive function was assessed with Mini Mental State Examination-Japanese （MMSE） during the period of nurses’ intervention with commune.　Nurses who cared for the patients assessed their behavioral and psychological symptoms due to dementia and caregiver’s distress with Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home Version （NPI-NH）, and their objective quality of life with Quality of Life of Dementia Japanese （QLDJ）．The assessments were done before, one month after, two months after, and three months after the intervention.　Results : MMSE score was improved in two patients and NPI-NH score in two patients.　QLDJ subscale ‘interacting with surroundings’ was improved in one patient, QLDJ subscale ‘expressing self’ in three patients, and QLDJ subscale ‘experiencing minimum negative behaviors’ in one patient.　Conclusion : It was considered that hearing aid using the commune in dementia patients might affect their cognitive function, objective quality of life, behavioral and psychological symptoms due to dementia, and caregiver’s distress.