Document Detail


Long-term effectiveness of screening for hearing loss: the screening for auditory impairment--which hearing assessment test (SAI-WHAT) randomized trial.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20398111     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of hearing screening on long-term hearing outcomes in a general population of older veterans. DESIGN: Hearing loss in the elderly is underdetected and undertreated. Routine hearing screening has been proposed, but it is not clear whether screening identifies patients who are sufficiently motivated to adhere to treatment. A four-arm randomized clinical trial was conducted to compare three screening strategies with no screening in 2,305 older veterans seeking general medical care. SETTING: Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System. INTERVENTIONS: The screening strategies were a tone-emitting otoscope, a widely used questionnaire about hearing handicap, and a combination of both tools. MEASUREMENTS: Hearing aid use 1 year after screening. RESULTS: Of participants who underwent screening with the tone-emitting otoscope, questionnaire, and combined testing, 18.6%, 59.2%, and 63.6%, respectively, screened positive for hearing loss (P<.01 for test of equality across three arms). Patients proceeded to formal audiology evaluation 14.7%, 23.0%, and 26.6% of the time in the same screening arms, compared with 10.8% in the control arm (P<.01 for test of equality across four arms). Hearing aid use 1 year after screening was 6.3%, 4.1%, and 7.4% in the same arms, compared with 3.3% in the control arm (P<.01). Hearing aid users experienced significant improvements in hearing-related function and communication ability. CONCLUSION: In older veterans, screening for hearing loss led to significantly more hearing aid use. Screening with the tone-emitting otoscope was more efficient. The results are most applicable to older populations with few cost barriers to hearing aids.
Authors:
Bevan Yueh; Margaret P Collins; Pamela E Souza; Edward J Boyko; Carl F Loovis; Patrick J Heagerty; Chuan-Fen Liu; Susan C Hedrick
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society     Volume:  58     ISSN:  1532-5415     ISO Abbreviation:  J Am Geriatr Soc     Publication Date:  2010 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-04-19     Completed Date:  2010-05-04     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7503062     Medline TA:  J Am Geriatr Soc     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  427-34     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. byueh@umn.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Female
Hearing Aids / utilization
Hearing Loss / prevention & control*
Hearing Tests / methods*
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Mass Screening / methods*
Middle Aged
Otoscopy
Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care)*
Patient Compliance*
Questionnaires
Referral and Consultation
Veterans
Washington

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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