Hearing Screening Among Underserved US Adults: A Scoping Review of Modalities and Determinants

To evaluate existing literature on hearing screening outcomes and follow-through among the adult population in the US.

PubMed, Ovid Medline, Scopus, and CINAHL databases.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Ovid Medline, Scopus, and CINAHL for studies published from January 2000 to January 2026. Inclusion criteria targeted studies assessing hearing screening strategies for underserved adults in the US. Studies were categorized based on their focus, including describing a screening modality, analyzing the facilitators/barriers to screening, or both.

Of 5826 articles screened, 33 met the inclusion criteria. Articles on screening modalities included provider-administered questionnaires, audiology device-assisted tests, self-reported single-item screening questions, community health worker (CHW)-led/community-based approaches, and survey-based assessments. The utilization of each screening modality varied by population, setting, and feasibility. In the community setting, questionnaires and CHW-led or culturally tailored approaches were the most common methods of administering hearing screening. Cost, stigma, and education presented barriers, while primary care workflow integration and provider encouragement emerged as facilitators.

A variety of modalities are being utilized to conduct hearing screening for adult populations. The feasibility of implementation varies by study setting and is supported by facilitators including integration into primary care, encouragement by providers, and patient education. In order to improve the rates of hearing screening among all communities, including those that are underserved, it is important to acknowledge both the barriers and facilitators to screening. Consistent guidelines, a focus on implementation, and partnerships across providers will be most beneficial in this pursuit.

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