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

This study describes outcomes of a pilot age-related hearing loss screening program implemented in two Family Medicine and three Otolaryngology (ENT) clinics at the Medical University of South Carolina, in terms of postscreening follow-up and associations of screening with hearing health care use.

Screening questions focused on perceived hearing, treatment, and desire for audiology referral. Hearing health care use, determined by diagnostic and procedural codes, was defined as at least one visit to audiology clinics within 1 year of screening. We used logistic regression models to determine associations of screening with hearing health care use among patients seen in Family Medicine and ENT clinics, separately. Results are presented as odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

Screened (n = 5360; mean age 73.0 [SD 6.7] years; 58.3% female) and nonscreened patients (n = 4106; mean age 72.0 [SD 6.7] years; 56.4% female) were matched for age and sex. Among patients who requested an audiology referral, 52.4% used hearing health care; of those, 21.5% obtained hearing aids. In a multivariable model, screening (vs not) in Family Medicine was associated with higher odds of hearing health care use (5.36 [1.92, 14.94]). In multivariable models, screening (vs not) in ENT was associated with lower odds of hearing health care use (0.86 [0.76, 0.98]); after excluding patients screened and seen in audiology on the same day, screening was associated with higher odds of hearing health care use (1.44 [1.16, 1.78]).

Hearing screening among older adults could facilitate timely identification and management of hearing loss.