Outcomes of a Large-Scale Pilot Hearing Screening Program at an Academic Medical Center

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Audiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Age-related hearing loss is a growing concern in older populations.
• Early detection and intervention are crucial for managing hearing impairment.
• Primary care settings offer opportunities for scalable hearing loss screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of a pilot age-related hearing loss screening program.
• To assess postscreening follow-up rates and hearing healthcare utilization.
• To determine the association between screening and subsequent audiology visits.

Main Methods:

• A pilot screening program was implemented in Family Medicine and Otolaryngology (ENT) clinics.
• Screening questions assessed perceived hearing, treatment needs, and referral desire.
• Hearing healthcare use was defined as audiology visits within one year postscreening, analyzed using logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Screening in Family Medicine was associated with significantly higher odds of hearing healthcare use (OR 5.36).
• Initial screening in ENT showed lower odds (OR 0.86), but improved to higher odds (OR 1.44) after excluding same-day audiology visits.
• Among those referred, 52.4% utilized hearing healthcare, with 21.5% obtaining hearing aids.

Conclusions:

• Hearing loss screening in older adults can facilitate timely identification and management.
• Integrating screening into primary care settings shows promise for increasing hearing healthcare access.
• Further research is needed to optimize screening protocols in specialty clinics.