OBJECTIVES: Hearing loss is common and impactful in aging adults, yet often goes undiagnosed and unaddressed. To overcome this, a pilot program to screen for hearing loss in older adults was initiated. This study describes demographic differences in responses to screening questions and preliminary outcomes of this program.

METHODS: The following questions were asked during annual Medicare visits in primary care and otolaryngology outpatient clinics at the Medical University of South Carolina. 1. Do you think you have hearing loss? If yes, 2. Are you being treated for hearing loss? If no, 3. Would you like a referral to audiology? If no, 4. Why not? If yes, a referral to audiology was automatically generated. We use one-way ANOVA and chi-square tests to determine demographic differences in responses to screening questions.

RESULTS: Of the 5,360 patients screened, the mean age was 73.0 (SD 6.7) years, 58.3% were female, and 68.8% were White race. 42.3% self-reported hearing loss, and among those, 38.9% reported not being treated for hearing loss. Of those not treated, 53.4% agreed to an audiology referral. The reasons for denying a referral were: did not want (54.6%), have other priorities (10.6%), plan to seek treatment elsewhere (7.5%), cannot afford treatment (4.3%), or other (23.1%). Patients who were older (p<0.01), male (p<0.01) and White (p<0.01) were more likely to self-report hearing loss and current treatment. Patients who were racial Minority (vs White) were more likely to agree to an audiology referral (p=0.03); responses to this question did not differ by age (p=0.25) or sex (p=0.86).

CONCLUSIONS: This screening program, which used simple questions, identified a high percentage of older adults with perceived hearing loss, many of whom were not treated. Over half of these patients requested audiology referrals when prompted. Additional analyses will determine impacts of screening on treatment uptake.