Can You Hear Me? Diabetes, Nutrition Education, and Hearing Loss

There are 34 million people living with diabetes and approximately 34.5 million diagnosed with hearing loss. This presents a complex challenge around the ability to receive and provide critical nutrition information. People with prediabetes have a rate of hearing loss about 30% higher than the general population, while individuals diagnosed with diabetes experience hearing loss twice as often. Cardiovascular disease and kidney disease may further impact the auditory system and require additional nutrition interventions.

This session will identify the impact of hearing loss on the quality of life of a person living with prediabetes, diabetes and other co-morbid conditions. Diabetes and unidentified hearing loss have a devastating impact on the ability to process speech, listen, learn and collaborate. This session will describe potential solutions via role playing, case studies and interactive polls to demonstrate the effectiveness of treatment via in-person and telehealth interactions.

Planned with the Diabetes Dietetic Practice Group

CPE Level: Level 3 (advanced knowledge/expertise)
CPEU: 1

Performance Indicators

• 9.3.3 Develops educational materials considering the client's literacy, cognitive and physical functional levels to achieve objectives.
• 4.1.1 Demonstrates effective problem solving and professional judgment to address needs.
• 2.1.1 Assesses the communication needs of individuals, groups and populations to provide effective communication.

Learning Objectives

• Apply assessment skills that address hearing loss for achieving confident and collaborative conversations
• Identify communication styles based on hearing loss for in-person and telehealth MNT sessions
• Explain alternative communication methods for delivering nutrition education that can improve health outcomes, and quality of life

Moderator

• Patricia Davidson, DCN, RDN, CDCES, LDN, FAND

Speakers

• Joanne Rinker, MS, RDN, CDCES, LDN, FADCES
• Susan Weiner, MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES