Life Care Plan Considerations for Hearing Impairments
Life care planners are routinely engaged for cases involving clients who require hearing aids and assistive technology due to injury-related hearing loss. There are two main types of hearing loss:
1. Conductive hearing loss: Caused by obstructions in the outer or middle ear, often treatable with medication or surgery.
2. Sensorineural hearing loss: Caused by inner ear or auditory nerve damage, typically permanent. Often seen in life care planning cases involving explosions or head trauma.
Life care planners should consult with audiologists and/or ENTs to obtain recommendations for current and future treatment needs. For significant sensorineural hearing loss requiring hearing aids, life care plans must specify the type (receiver-in-ear, behind-the-ear, or invisible-in-canal), which may require custom ear molds at additional cost. Hearing aid fittings, routine cleaning, and re-programming appointments should also be considered. Ongoing audiologist follow-ups and hearing tests are necessary as hearing loss can progress over time. It is important to ensure that life care planners inquire about hearing aid warranties and replacement schedules.
For work/school accommodations, consider additional assistive technology that pairs with hearing aids, such as:
Roger Clip-On Mics for direct feed from speakers/presenters
Personal amplifiers to increase sound levels and reduce background noise in various environments.
Life care plans must also include replacement batteries for hearing aids and assistive technology, if not rechargeable.
In some cases, an ENT evaluation may be required before hearing aid fitting, especially if testing reveals hearing loss asymmetry, which could indicate neuromas or other inner ear/brain trauma requiring further diagnostics. If the client also experiences dizziness, balance issues, or tinnitus, additional care from a neuro-otologist or vestibular therapist may be warranted.