Hearing Loss and Healthy Aging Workshop Summary (2014) / Chapter Skim
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7 Contemporary Issues in Hearing Health Care
7 Contemporary Issues in Hearing Health Care
Pages 73-84
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From page 73... ...
Hoffman NIDCD/NIH The Healthy People initiative was designed not as a federal initiative but as a national one with participation from nongovernmental organizations, state health agencies, professional associations, academic researchers, multiple federal agencies, and state and local stakeholders, said Howard Hoffman, director of the Epidemiology and Statistics Program at NIDCD/ NIH. As Green and Fielding (2012, p.
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From page 74... ...
has also included questions about hearing in the past, though the most recent survey focused on taste and smell rather than hearing. Together, these data sources have produced national estimates and age-specific prevalences of hearing loss, tinnitus, hearing exams, use of hearing protection, and use of hearing aids.
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From page 75... ...
In fact, the price usually includes many services, including taking the earmold, assessment, repair, earwax removal, counseling, and aural rehabilitation. Online and other hearing aid sales typically provide the device but not the above-listed services, making the devices substantially cheaper than when the hearing aid is bundled with services.
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From page 76... ...
The American Academy of Audiology supports direct access, he said, whereas the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association supports comprehensive Medicare coverage of audiology services, which would allow audiologists to be reimbursed by Medicare for treatment services. The Academy of Doctors of Audiology supports limited license physician status for audiologists, direct access, and expanded audiology benefits under Medicare.
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From page 77... ...
is not likely to be supported. According to Burkard, "If we want to make it possible for more elders to live independently longer, to reduce medical noncompliance because those elders with hearing loss do not understand what their physician is telling them, and to improve their quality of life, we must support legislation that mandates that Medicare cover the costs of hearing aids and allow audiologists to be reimbursed for their rehabilitative services." Interprofessional education has been a hot topic for more than a decade, Burkard observed, and speech and hearing have been a focus of attention.
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From page 78... ...
Working Group Background and Rationale The working group focused on adults of all ages with mild to moderate hearing loss, not just older Americans. But mild to moderate hearing loss represents the hearing status of many older Americans, and they are least likely to have had a hearing screening assessment or use a hearing aid for one of many reasons.
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From page 79... ...
"Beyond the purchase of a home or a car, hearing aids and services can be the third most expensive purchase for many Americans with hearing loss over time." But hearing health care is not covered by Medicare or most insurance plans. Instead, people rely on Lions Clubs, loaner banks, and philanthropic organizations, which "is not an acceptable public health solution." One of NIH's missions is to close gaps in health disparities, including those among racial and ethnic minorities, the urban and rural poor, and the medically underserved.
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From page 80... ...
The necessary components of assessment batteries, including cognitive and psychosocial components, need to be determined to guide the fitting of hearing aids and other interventions. Hearing aid technology variables that predict success and influence market penetration rates need to be identified, Donahue said, including the minimal level of technology needed to achieve success.
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From page 81... ...
Finally, the Senate report language for the institute's fiscal year 2013 appropriations says, "The Committee strongly urges NIDCD to support research grants that could lead to less expensive hearing aids, so such aids could become accessible and affordable to more people." During the discussion period, Margaret Wallhagen emphasized the difficulty of conducting community-based research and partnerships. Trying to conduct research in a clinical setting requires overcoming major barriers, such as time, privacy, and ongoing changes in the health care system.
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From page 82... ...
Ability of Consumers and Audiologists to Detect Ear Disease Prior to Hearing Aid Use: Evidence relevant to the FDA-required medical evaluation with waiver option Reduction of Disparities in Access to Hearing Health Care on the U.S.-Mexico Border: Testing the effectiveness of an innovative community health worker inter vention (Promotora) , used for other chronic conditions, to expand hearing health care access among older adults facing health disparities User-Centered Control of Hearing Aid Signal Processing -- Allows users to select their desired signal processing parameter values on mobile devices that commu nicate wirelessly with hearing aids Improvement of Amplification Outcomes in Noise by Self-Directed Hearing Aid Fit ting: Self-fitting with wireless control of hearing aids to explore preferred settings in noise -- allow users to custom fit algorithms for greater success in background noise in daily use Primary Care Intervention Promoting Hearing Health Care Service Access and Use: Within a primary care setting, testing the effectiveness of three protocols on subsequent access to and use of hearing health care services Community-Based Kiosks for Hearing Screening and Education: Within four community-based centers, testing the effectiveness of five hearing screening paradigms for hearing health care follow-up and hearing aid uptake A National Screening Test for Hearing, Administered by Telephone: A U.S.
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From page 83... ...
Department of Veterans Affairs, also pointed to funding through the VA for the Health Services Research Community, which looks at the context of service delivery in the real world. This interdisciplinary research is looking at cross-disciplinary teams of physicians, nurses, social workers, and community service workers all working on behalf of patients.
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