This week I had the opportunity to be lumped in a group of people who have cognitive difficulties. Well, not really. Someone merely asked the Micro Manager if I had any cognitive difficulties.
Well, I do have some difficulties. They are not earth shattering or disabling. I have been aware of some difficulties I have for some time. I have difficulties with spatial issues. I got my bird house built but it was a challenge. I have trouble with knots. Oh , I can tie a knot but sometimes I have to think about it.
So what burned me up?
I was at my annual hearing test. I had done the test with all the beeps in both ears.
Then she said , "In this test say the last word you hear. " She started the test and I made no response. I heard the speaker say one word. I was waiting for more words . It didn't seem like the speaker saying one word fit the term "last word." At that time the audiologist asked the Micro Manager if I had any cognitive disorder. I didn't hear this as I was in a sound proof booth.
It seems to me as if the instructions for the test should have been better. Why not say, " Say the word you hear the speaker say." It doesn't seem to me as if one word fits the term last word.
I was offended by the audiologists remark. I didn't find out about it until I got home.
It got me thinking that some people could have a very small bit of cognitive difficulty and yet classified as having something very wrong.
So I'm out there on a campaign for the rights of people who have some cognitive difficulties. Don't lump these people in with a whole group of disabled people who are completely incompetent.
Hi Red, Write the gal a note and explain your thoughts so someone else may be helped:)
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize what had gone on until I got home.
DeleteOh, drats Red. I've had those yearly tests all my life, and now have a cochlear implant on one side and a coordinating hearing aid on the right.
ReplyDeleteWhen we struggle to hear the word someone is saying (blue and moon sound alike,) we try to figure out what people are saying. When we get in the habit of guessing, they know we didn't hear the question right or correctly.
With those annoying, nerve-wracking tests, you should try to guess what the blasted word is, even if you're not sure. I HATE one-syllable words, all by themselves. A hearing loss makes understanding them worse. If there's more syllables or a sentence, sometimes we can piece it together.
Hopefully you went to an ear doctor's MD /DO audiologist, not just the dudes at Costco/Sears or Hearing Today. A full audiologist has a PhD and know how to set folks up for hearing tests. A doc can make sure it's not something medical or ear wax. The audiologist can determine which pitches and ranges you can and cannot hear a certain percentage of the time. Your head is probably just dandy, but a hearing loss can make people think otherwise. Make sure you're going to a good audiologist.
I could go on for hours about this. They even have articles on how others can live with people with a hearing loss: say our name first before telling us something; don't try to tell us something around corners....... hang in there. Consider retesting and/or with a good clinical audiology practice. Linda in Kansas.....yep, that's what I said. (I "hear" better my reading too.)
You make some very good points coming from one who's had experience. Yes I have big problems when someone speaks in another room. I do go to a professional audiologist. She is good. She shows me results and explains things.
DeleteRight now... I'm worried about my cognitive abilities. Sigh... I'm worried about my 92 year old mother who is falling into dementia and then I'm starting to forget things. Art and I sometimes misunderstand what other person meant. sigh... Double sigh...
ReplyDeleteSometimes it takes spouse a while to understand the issues. Some pretty careful procedures must be followed to make sure people understand each other. Sometimes we are under stress from other issues and it makes it difficult to understand.
DeleteI agree that the instructions were lacking. I often find written instructions lacking too although others seem to make out with them just fine. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the one with the issue as I think things should be crystal clear especially in written instructions. Government websites are often the worst. I think I've mentioned this on earlier posts you've written. Don't you just find those hearing tests very tiring listening to all the bells and beeps?
ReplyDeleteYou will get me on a rant about Govt websites. they're terrible. There's nothing wrong with things being crystal clear.
Deletethe way the question was put together would have made me wait for more, as well.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, a small difficulty in one area doesn't make a person incompetent
Cognitive issues are not well defined. the term is too general.
DeleteInteresting question but not sure I know the answer. I have a very bad hearing loss, wear hearing aids but don't always hear what the speaker says - especially late in the evening when I am tired. Would that be called a cognitive difficulty I wonder?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not cognitive. Hearing is all about how the ear picks things up. The little bones in the ear get stiff and don't vibrate as they should.
DeleteI hear you! In a short encounter like that one and only one small portion of it at that, people sometimes take a big jump to a bigger conclusion which could be very wrong! People dismiss seniors easily that way and don’t get to the real issues which could be corrected, like their instructions!
ReplyDeleteYes, seniors are not considered as they should,
DeleteI’ve had many hearing tests and have never been instructed like that. I would probably figure out what was required because of my experience, but that it still silly. I guess my main difficulty is absent mindedness, It’s always been a characteristic of mine, but it seems to be getting worse.
ReplyDeleteAbsent mined people have other things on there minds. I find it hard to remember things that people tell me.
DeleteI had a hearing test two years ago. After all the beeps and buzzes the doctor came in. "You have perfectly normal hearing," he told me. I smiled, silently congratulating myself. Then he continued, "... for a man your age."
ReplyDeleteI hope you knew about that guy's sense of humor
DeleteThe instructions for that test should have been much clearer. I would have waited for more than one word as well. As I'm typing this it just occurred to me that there may have been other words that were spoken that you didn't hear.
ReplyDeleteNo, I heard the instructions . I got 96% of the words on the test.
DeleteI would write an official letter to the person doing the testing, polite but firm, stating the issue you had and that you wanted to help her understand that the instructions were not clear and could lead to an error in diagnosis in other patients as well. I am sure that when she saw your ability to explain the problem she would be aware that you do not have the cognitive problem she labelled you with. And it could help her future patients. I would have been upset, too, and writing a letter would be my push-back -- and it would be on the record for the future.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not the kind of person to push back and write a letter.
DeleteThe person probably should have explained the hearing test to you before it started.
ReplyDeleteThat was all the explanation I had. Yes, if more information had been given about the test it would have been much better.
DeleteI recently had that hearing test but my audiologist just told me to repeat the word, so hearing difficulties, yes, but not cognitive.
ReplyDeleteAlso I was recently checked out by my Neurologist and Neurosurgeon and both decided I am sharp enough, just, as they said carefully, being young themselves, "just signs of normal aging".
I certainly buy into normal aging. I tell my kids about that so that they don't think Dad. is out of it.
DeleteI would prefer the terms cognitive weakness or cognitive limitations. Not everyone is born the same. Neither ageing in the same pattern. Given there is no therapeutic treatment for cognitive function reversal, the premature conclusion of one's cognitive capacity can be so damaging. A great article!
ReplyDeleteThe term cognitive is also very general. We all have our own unique characteristics.
DeleteThat would have annoyed me too!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why she thought I was the problem and not her.
DeleteI take that test once a year, too. I found it so annoying that I skipped it one year and they didn't even notice.
ReplyDeleteI would send her a quick note...sirely you are not the first person who has misunderstood those inadequate instructions.
ReplyDeleteI hear you! Yes, that is a deliberate pun. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right -- those instructions were not clear!
ReplyDeleteWow, those were definitely not clear instructions, which can bring about faulty results!
ReplyDeleteIt hurts when your physician doesn't respond with responsibility and politely dear Red. What is nice here your attitude about her inappropriate response as often most of the patients get confused but hardly express it front of doctor. I am of your kind to speak my mind clear though not loud.
ReplyDeleteOne of my aunt had hearing problem in her late seventies. I agree that peole are cruel and stupid enough to mistreat such person .how can they forget that this will come to them as well