Strengthening Communication in the Community
BCHC Charity have funded conversation amplifiers with headphones for Adult Community Services, to help Team BCHC staff communicate with patients who are hard of hearing.
Patient Experience and Engagement Manager Alex Evans approached the charity with the idea, to help patients out in the community feel more involved in their care by allowing them to better communicate with their health professionals. "Over the past few years, I have recognised that involving communities, patients, and families in the services they receive can make a huge difference to their health and wellbeing. There have been some fantastic outcomes for patients demonstrating the value in investing in digital technology and innovation."
The amplifiers work by increasing the volume of the voice of the person speaking into the device, allowing the listener to more distinctly hear their words. The amplifiers also filter out background noise, offering a clearer sound for the listener. They can be used alongside hearing aids or cochlear implants to further enhance hearing for the user.
Stacey Taylor, Charity Engagement and Communications Lead, says, “I know from my own experience that it can be embarrassing for some people to admit that they are struggling to hear someone, and this can lead to patients missing or misunderstanding vital information about their own care. BCHC Charity were very happy to fund this project, as it will empower patients to communicate and help them to feel more independent.”
20 hearing amplifiers and headphones were funded by BCHC Charity for use in Therapy Hubs, District Nursing teams, and the Early Intervention Community Teams (EICT), which have gone on to enable a range of patients to benefit from enhanced hearing and clearer communication.
Third year student Occupational Therapist, Mehrine, from EICT West wrote, “I used the amplifier with a patient called Naomi on two separate visits, both of which were very positive and showed increased patient engagement.”
Naomi's daughter, Barbara, also shared positive feedback, and has even purchased the same equipment to keep with her mother at all times after she saw the visible improvement it made to communicating with her.
Barbara said, "Recently, the EICT visited my mother and introduced us to simple hearing amplifiers, allowing Mum to trial them at home. Before this visit, Mum was struggling badly to hear; conversations had become difficult and often frustrating. Although she desperately wanted to be involved, she simply couldn't follow what was being said, and even asking her to do basic things, like trying to stand, had become a real challenge."
Since using the amplifiers, the change has been remarkable. Mum is once again part of conversations, engaging with us, responding clearly, and regaining a sense of confidence and independence. What feels like a small intervention has had an enormous impact on her daily life and on ours as a family. We are incredibly grateful to the team for taking the time to explore this simple solution, and to those who funded the hearing amplifiers that made it possible. This experience has shown us just how powerful the right support, at the right time, can be."