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Alternative Pathways for Hearing Care May Address Disparities in Access
Amber Willink1,2, Lama Assi2, Carrie Nieman2,3
1Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Frontiers in Digital Health
|December 13, 2021
Summary
Many older adults with hearing loss do not use hearing aids. Alternative care models via pharmacies and medical practices could improve access for underserved populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Gerontology
- Audiology
Background:
- Low hearing aid uptake among older adults is a persistent challenge in hearing healthcare.
- Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids aim to improve accessibility and affordability.
- Current hearing care delivery models may not reach all individuals with untreated hearing loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the characteristics of individuals with hearing loss who do not use hearing aids.
- To describe their healthcare utilization patterns.
- To identify alternative healthcare pathways for increased access to hearing treatment.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study using the 2017 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.
- Analysis of a nationally representative sample of 7,361 non-institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries (65+ years) with self-reported hearing trouble.
- Survey-weighted proportions used to describe population characteristics and healthcare utilization by hearing aid use.
Main Results:
- Women, racial/ethnic minorities, and low-income beneficiaries were less likely to use hearing aids.
- Among non-users, 64% obtained prescription drugs and 50% saw a medical provider.
- Individuals not accessing these services were younger, more educated, and had higher incomes.
Conclusions:
- Alternative care models delivered through pharmacies and general medical practices may reach underserved populations.
- These settings are frequent touchpoints for Medicare beneficiaries with untreated hearing loss.
- New models should complement, not substitute, existing hearing care access pathways.
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