Research output per year
Research output per year
Dr
Postdoctoral researcher based in the division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience.
'Estimating the prevalence of hearing loss in people with dementia: A feasibility study' Project funded by the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) (2023-2025).
The risk of developing dementia and hearing loss increases with age, leading to a significant overlap of these conditions. Detecting and managing hearing difficulties in individuals with dementia is crucial, as untreated hearing loss can exacerbate confusion, depression, social isolation, and dementia-related symptoms. However, the prevalence rate of hearing loss in people with dementia remains unknown in the UK. Prior to conducting a large-scale study to estimate this prevalence, we will assess the reliability and acceptability of hearing tests for this population and explore participant recruitment and retention strategies, both for people living in the community and in care homes. We will also use qualitative interviews to understand the reasons behind unidentified hearing loss in people with dementia, aiming to identify barriers to engaging with audiology services. The results will be used to propose recommendations for improved hearing assessments and audiology pathways tailored to individuals with dementia.
'Improving quality of life through addressing communication needs for people in residential care living with dementia.' PhD project funded by the Alzheimer’s Society (2020-2023).
Abstract: Ensuring that long-term care home (LTCH) residents with dementia receive appropriate and effective hearing care is an essential but unaddressed issue. The impact of untreated hearing loss on residents with dementia can include increased confusion, depression and agitation, difficulties interacting with their caregivers and peers and increased risk of social withdrawal. Meeting the hearing-related needs of residents with dementia is vital to maintaining their communication abilities, independence, and quality-of-life as much as possible. The aims of this thesis were to explore current practices surrounding the provision of hearing care to long-term care home residents with dementia, understand the barriers and facilitators to this provision and to make evidence-based recommendations for intervention. The work presented in this thesis provides a novel, holistic understanding of the barriers experienced by residents with dementia and their formal and informal caregivers. The thesis also outlines the development of the first evidence based, behaviour change intervention for LTCH staffs in improving their provision of hearing support for residents with dementia. This thesis includes five studies; A systematic review, three original research studies using survey and interview methods and the development of a behaviour change intervention. This thesis underscores the complexity of providing effective hearing care to residents with dementia, and the need for improvement of often inconsistent and poor-quality support. The research identified several interacting, multi-level barriers relating to caregivers’ knowledge of hearing loss, opportunities for LTCHs to work effectively alongside audiologists, unclear responsibilities relating to hearing care and residents’ difficulties adapting to, or being comfortable wearing, hearing aids. Addressing these difficulties can only be achieved through multi-component person-centred interventions co-developed with PPI contributors. The intervention outlined in this thesis has the potential to improve mood, communication abilities, social interaction and reduced behavioural symptoms and distress of residents living with dementia and hearing loss in care homes.
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Doctor of Philosophy, Addressing the communication needs of long-term care home residents with dementia and hearing loss, The University of Manchester
5 Jan 2020 → 1 Jul 2023
Award Date: 5 Jul 2023
Master of Science, Cognitive Neuroscience, University of York
1 Sept 2017 → 1 Sept 2018
Award Date: 1 Sept 2018
Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Psychology with Neuropsychology, Bangor University
1 Sept 2014 → 1 Sept 2017
Award Date: 1 Sept 2017
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Working paper
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Peters, S., Ulph, F., Arden Armitage, C., Borrelli, B., Bowen, A., Byrne-Davis, L., Edge, D., French, D., Hart, J., Todd, C., Skevington, S., Wearden, A., Cotterill, S., Brooks, J., Brown, L., Bull, E., Cordingley, L., Epton, T., Smith, D., Speer, S., Powell, R., Bartlett, K., Coupe, N., Shepherd, S., Dienes, K., Ghio, D., Hood, A., Lavallee, J., Rowland, C., Benton, J., Goldthorpe, J., McWilliams, L., Keyworth, C., Goulding, R., Loughran, M., Hawkes, R., Kapadi, A., Hurley, R., Leather, J., Musa, C., Angelakis, I., Reid, C., Alshammari, D., Mountain, D., Hooper, E., Gates, E., Johnson, F., Lomas, F., Kaplan, G., Cross, H., Foote, H., Long, H., Reid, H., Hamer, J., Sibasa, K., Hozhabrafkan, K., Al Abri, K., Lucas, L., Millard, L., Hulme, L., Dhanwani, M., Sonola-Jones, O., Sfakianaki, R., Broadbent, R., Crone, R., Husni, R. R., Mank, S., Booth, S., Hindmarch, S., Plant, S., Mace, S., Sehmbi, T., Macintyre, V., Vidayanti, V., Peterson, J., Woof, V., El-Khani, A., Devereux-Fitzgerald, A., Chisholm, A., Sawyer, C., Hope, H., Wilkes, J., Birtwell, K., Bakur, K., Stringer, G., Mohd Faudzi, F. N. B., Checketts, M., Tang, M. Y., Coupe, N., Crook, R., Hamnett, C., Lyons, S., Longley, V., Hulme, L., Mountain, D., Talbot, H., Lucas, L., Ecob, C., Huggett, C., Hozhabrafkan, K., Hyder, S. & Lee, R.
1/09/10 → …
Project: Research
Munro, K., Millman, R., Lamb, W., Dawes, P., Plack, C., Stone, M., Kluk-De Kort, K., Moore, D., Morton, C., Prendergast, G., Couth, S., Schlittenlacher, J., Chilton, H., Visram, A., Dillon, H., Guest, H., Heinrich, A., Jackson, I., Littlejohn, J., Jones, L., Lough, M., Morgan, R., Perugia, E., Roughley, A., Whiston, H., Wright, C., Saunders, G., Kelly, C., Cross, H., Loughran, M. & Hoseinabadi, R.
Project: Research
Hannah Cross (Other), Rebecca Millman (Other), Christopher Arden Armitage (Other), Piers Dawes (Other) & Iracema Leroi (Other)
Activity: Internal positions, career professional development and other › Other › Research
Hannah Cross (Co-Chair)
Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Research
15/10/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Blogs and social media
12/09/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Other
25/07/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other
10/02/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs and social media
Supervisor: Armitage, C. J. (Supervisor), Leroi, I. (Supervisor), Dawes, P. (Supervisor) & Millman, R. (Supervisor)
Student thesis: Phd