Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to address this important committee. My name is Meredith Wright, and I'm joined today by my colleague Chantal Kealey.
I am proud to represent Speech-Language & Audiology Canada, the national professional association for the two distinct but interconnected professions of speech-language pathology and audiology. Today, the association represents approximately 6,400 professionals across Canada.
As a speech-language pathologist, my scope of practice with seniors includes assessing and treating a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders, from the inability to communicate following stroke, to swallowing difficulties experienced by a person with dementia at the end of life.
As an audiologist, Dr. Kealey's scope of practice with seniors includes assessing and treating an array of auditory disorders, such as hearing loss, tinnitus, auditory processing, and balance problems.
For our association, the term “communication health” refers to everything within the scopes of practice of audiology and speech-language pathology. We know that the existence and extent of most communication and hearing difficulties is largely unknown by the Canadian public, but the statistics are eye-opening. Approximately one in six people in Canada has a speech, language, or hearing disorder.
As we age, we experience a decline in memory, and our ability to process information slows. Complex sentences, like the ones used by many health care providers, lawyers, and financial planners, become more and more difficult to understand. Aging muscles can contribute to the development of swallowing problems, particularly in frail seniors. Swallowing problems can result in choking, malnutrition, dehydration, and pneumonia. Hearing loss also gradually increases as we age. By 65, about one in three people has a clinically significant hearing loss, and by 75, about 50% of people are affected.
Seniors are by no means a homogeneous group, but certain changes in communication, swallowing, and hearing abilities are associated with normal aging. So even the healthiest of seniors need access to affordable and appropriate care as they age so they are able to have a high quality of life and stay in their homes as long as possible.
However, more significant communication, swallowing, and hearing changes can occur as part of an age-related health problem. With aging comes a higher prevalence of neurological conditions, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias. Communication difficulties experienced by people with neurological diseases vary depending on the type and duration of the disease and the part of the brain affected. For instance, people who have had a stroke may experience both communication and swallowing difficulties. People with Parkinson's disease may have speech and voice problems.
The relationship between hearing loss and dementia is receiving significant attention. Research suggests that hearing loss is more prevalent in seniors with dementia than in those with normal cognition. Indeed, some studies found that individuals with hearing loss had two to five times increased risk of developing dementia, although we should not assume a causal link at this time.
Furthermore, hearing loss, especially if not managed appropriately, can lead to balance disorders, which increases the risk of falls. The risk of falling is three to four times higher among older people with balance disorders, and falls are the leading cause of injuries in seniors.
Communication, swallowing, and hearing difficulties can be extremely frustrating, frightening, and isolating for the person experiencing the difficulties, as well as for their families, friends, and caregivers. Quality of life and personal relationships can be affected. Social withdrawal, anxiety, and depression can result. Caregiver burden can increase. Indeed, seniors with communication and hearing disorders may experience difficulty participating in many of the social interactions of day-to-day life. Even accessing basic goods and services can be a challenge.
Right now, we have an opportunity to build a better Canada for our seniors, one that includes universal access to appropriate communication health services. We need better training for service providers so they can communicate with seniors in more meaningful ways. Service providers who work in places like Service Canada, hospitals, banks, pharmacies, and law firms need to be prepared to communicate with seniors who may not be able to hear and speak the way I do.
For that reason, we need the new federal accessibility law to be inclusive of Canadians who have communication and hearing difficulties. We need to invest in more publicly funded, community-based health services, including communication groups for people with hearing loss, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and dementia, and also communication skills training for family and caregivers. We need more community-based screening programs for hearing, balance, and swallowing disorders, to ensure that seniors, particularly those living in rural and remote communities, are getting access to appropriate care in a timely manner.
Too often, we hear about publicly funded speech-language pathology and audiology positions being cut. This is deeply concerning since most Canadian seniors cannot afford to pay for private speech-language pathology and audiology services. We need to invest in more research in communication health as it relates to seniors, to ensure that Canadian seniors are provided with the best care.
Audiology and speech-language pathology researchers in Canada make substantial contributions to the evidence base for the care of seniors with communication difficulties and hearing loss. We need to continue to support research focused on communication health in seniors.
In conclusion, I urge this committee to consider these recommendations when developing its report, and to ensure the needs of seniors with communication and hearing difficulties are represented.
Thank you very much.