Listen Up! Supporting communication when dementia and hearing loss co-exist
Parallel 1
17 November, 2026 12:00 – 1:10 pmCommunication and Connection
Sue Egersdorff is co-founder of Ready Generations Charity. Ready Generations is a purpose-driven charity committed to bringing generations together to build age-friendly communities where everyone belongs and feels connected.
Sue has a long history of working in education, health and care services and is passionate about the power of bringing people and networks together to lead change-making innovations that impact the quality of care for everyone and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Summary
Hearing loss is common among older adults, yet it is frequently overlooked as a barrier to engagement and communication, particularly for those also living with dementia. When auditory and cognitive barriers overlap, individuals can experience profound communication challenges, increased anxiety and accelerated withdrawal from daily activities.
Listen Up! is an ongoing awareness raising project looking at hearing loss across the life course and with a particular focus on those living with dementia.
The presentation will explore the initial findings from the project as well as offering practical, actionable strategies to help bridge the gap caused by dual sensory and cognitive impairment.


