Clinical Diagnostics After Failed Hearing Screening in People With Intellectual Disabilities Do Not Often Take Place

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Public Health
• Intellectual Disabilities Research

Background:

• Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) face higher risks of hearing loss.
• Accessible hearing screening and intervention programs are needed in community settings.
• Full audiometric assessment is often challenging in non-clinical environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of an outreach hearing program for individuals with ID.
• To assess referral uptake and outcomes for external diagnostics after on-site screening failures.
• To compare outreach programs with clinical settings and standard care.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre cohort study (HörGeist) was conducted.
• An outreach program offered repeated hearing screening, diagnostics, and intervention in living environments.
• Participants failing on-site screening were referred for external diagnostics and tracked via telephone.

Main Results:

• Of 262 referrals for external diagnostics, only 37.5% were attended.
• Key reasons for non-attendance included appointment arrangement issues and refusals.
• Referral uptake decreased significantly with age, from 50.8% in young children to 24.7% in adults.

Conclusions:

• Community-based hearing screening, diagnostic, and intervention programs appear feasible and beneficial for individuals with ID.
• Enhancing hearing status assessment necessitates educating participants, caregivers, and professionals.
• Close collaboration with healthcare providers is crucial for successful outcomes.