 |
|
CLINICIAN'S CORNER
Screening and Management of Adult Hearing Loss in Primary Care
Scientific Review
Bevan Yueh, MD, MPH;
Nina Shapiro, MD;
Catherine H. MacLean, MD, PhD;
Paul G. Shekelle, MD, PhD
JAMA. 2003;289:1976-1985.
Context Hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic condition in older adults and has important effects on their physical and mental health. Despite these effects, most older patients are not assessed or treated for hearing loss.
Objective To review the evidence on screening and management of hearing loss of older adults in the primary care setting.
Data Sources and Study Selection We performed a search from 1985 to 2001 using MEDLINE, HealthSTAR, EMBASE, Ageline, and the National Guideline Clearinghouse for articles and practice guidelines about screening and management of hearing loss in older adults, as well as reviewed references in these articles and those suggested by experts in hearing impairment.
Data Extraction We reviewed articles for the most clinically important information, emphasizing randomized clinical trials, where available, and identified 1595 articles.
Data Synthesis Screening tests that reliably detect hearing loss are use of an audioscope, a hand-held combination otoscope and audiometer, and a self-administered questionnaire, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening version. The value of routine screening for improving patient outcomes has not been evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. Screening is endorsed by most professional organizations, including the US Preventive Services Task Force. While most hearing loss in older adults is sensorineural and due to presbycusis, cerumen impaction and chronic otitis media may be present in up to 30% of elderly patients with hearing loss and can be treated by the primary care clinician. In randomized trials, hearing aids have been demonstrated to improve outcomes for patients with sensorineural hearing loss. Nonadherence to use of hearing aids is high. Prompt recognition of potentially reversible causes of hearing loss, such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, is important to maximize the possibility of functional recovery.
Conclusion While untested in a clinical trial, older adults can be screened for hearing loss using simple methods, and effective treatments exist and are available for many forms of hearing loss.
Author Affiliations: Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Departments of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle (Dr Yueh); RAND Health, Santa Monica, Calif (Drs Shekelle and MacLean); and Divisions of Head and Neck Surgery (Dr Shapiro) and Rheumatology (Dr MacLean), University of California Los Angeles, and the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (Dr Shekelle), Los Angeles, Calif.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
The Hearing-Dependent Daily Activities Scale to Evaluate Impact of Hearing Loss in Older People
Hidalgo et al.
Ann Fam Med 2008;6:441-447.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
A Mini-Mental Status Examination for the hearing impaired
De Silva et al.
Age Ageing 2008;37:593-595.
FULL TEXT
Prevalence of Hearing Loss and Differences by Demographic Characteristics Among US Adults: Data From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004
Agrawal et al.
Arch Intern Med 2008;168:1522-1530.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Diabetes and Hearing Impairment in the United States: Audiometric Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999 to 2004
Bainbridge et al.
ANN INTERN MED 2008;149:1-10.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Daily folic acid supplementation for 3 years reduced age related hearing loss
Auerhahn
Evid. Based Nurs. 2007;10:88-88.
FULL TEXT
How accurate are bedside hearing tests?
Boatman et al.
Neurology 2007;68:1311-1314.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Review: self report of hearing loss and the whispered voice test are useful for screening for hearing impairment
Martin
Evid. Based Nurs. 2006;9:120-120.
FULL TEXT
Hearing decline predicted by elders' stereotypes.
Levy et al.
J. Gerontol. B Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci. 2006;61:P82-P87.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Does This Patient Have Hearing Impairment?
Bagai et al.
JAMA 2006;295:416-428.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Development and Validation of the Effectiveness of Auditory Rehabilitation Scale
Yueh et al.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2005;131:851-856.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Communicating about Health Care: Observations from Persons Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Iezzoni et al.
ANN INTERN MED 2004;140:356-362.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
OTHER ARTICLES NOTED (25 Apr 2003 to 18 Jul 2003)
Evid. Based Nurs. 2003;6:e1-12.
FULL TEXT
Screening and Management of Adult Hearing Loss in Primary Care: Clinical Applications
Bogardus et al.
JAMA 2003;289:1986-1990.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
|
