Download PDF
Semin Hear 2021; 42(01): 047-058
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1726000
Review Article

Hearing Loss and Healthcare Access among Adults

Elham Mahmoudi
1   Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2   Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
,
Philip Zazove
1   Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
,
Terrence Pleasant
3   Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
,
Lisa Meeks
1   Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2   Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
,
Michael M. McKee
1   Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2   Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Hearing loss (HL) is common among individuals aged 50 and older and is associated with increased healthcare costs. Whether HL is associated with less access to healthcare is unclear. In this study, we examined the association between HL and access to medical care and prescription drugs among individuals 50+ with and without HL. We used nationally representative 2013–2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data, consisting of 1,977 adults with HL and 17,399 without. We applied an inverse propensity score weighting and regression modeling to adjust for any potential differences in health and socioeconomic conditions between the two groups. Adults with HL were more likely to be white, less educated, poorer, and with public insurance (p < 0.001). They were also likely to have hypertension, heart disease, stroke, emphysema, high cholesterol, diabetes, joint pain, and arthritis (p < 0.001). The odds of reporting unmet medical needs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29–2.66), delay in getting medical needs met (OR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.00–1.87), and having unfilled prescriptions (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.27–2.59) were higher among individuals with HL compared with their counterparts without HL. Individuals with HL have less access to care and prescription drugs. To ensure equitability in access, public health policies should address specific needs of people with HL.

Keywords

hearing loss - healthcare access - medical expenditure panel survey


Publication History

Article published online:
15 April 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

  • References

  • 1 McKee MM, Stransky ML, Reichard A. Hearing loss and associated medical conditions among individuals 65 years and older. Disabil Health J 2018; 11 (01) 122-125
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Wallhagen MI, Strawbridge WJ, Shema SJ. The relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive function: a 5-year longitudinal study. Res Gerontol Nurs 2008; 1 (02) 80-86
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 National Council on the Aging. The consequences of untreated hearing loss in older persons. ORL Head Neck Nurs 2000; 18 (01) 12-16
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Livingston G, Sommerlad A, Orgeta V. et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care. Lancet 2017; 390 (10113): 2673-2734
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Lin FR, Ferrucci L. Hearing loss and falls among older adults in the United States. Arch Intern Med 2012; 172 (04) 369-371
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Reed NS, Altan A, Deal JA. et al. Trends in health care costs and utilization associated with untreated hearing loss over 10 years. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019; 145 (01) 27-34
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Chang JE, Weinstein B, Chodosh J, Blustein J. Hospital readmission risk for patients with self-reported hearing loss and communication trouble. J Am Geriatr Soc 2018; 66 (11) 2227-2228
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Zazove P, McKee M, Schleicher L. et al. To act or not to act: responses to electronic health record prompts by family medicine clinicians. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2017; 24 (02) 275-280
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. ; February 15, 2017. AHRQ. Accessed February 15, 2017 at: https://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Genther DJ, Betz J, Pratt S. et al; Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Association between hearing impairment and risk of hospitalization in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2015; 63 (06) 1146-1152
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Mahmoudi E, Zazove P, Meade M, McKee MM. Association between hearing aid use and health care use and cost among older adults with hearing loss. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018; 144 (06) 498-505
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Genther DJ, Frick KD, Chen D, Betz J, Lin FR. Association of hearing loss with hospitalization and burden of disease in older adults. JAMA 2013; 309 (22) 2322-2324
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Whitson HE, Lin FR. Hearing and vision care for older adults: sensing a need to update Medicare policy. JAMA 2014; 312 (17) 1739-1740
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Ciorba A, Bianchini C, Pelucchi S, Pastore A. The impact of hearing loss on the quality of life of elderly adults. Clin Interv Aging 2012; 7: 159-163
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Chisolm TH, Johnson CE, Danhauer JL. et al. A systematic review of health-related quality of life and hearing aids: final report of the American Academy of Audiology Task Force On the Health-Related Quality of Life Benefits of Amplification in Adults. J Am Acad Audiol 2007; 18 (02) 151-183
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Mulrow CD, Aguilar C, Endicott JE. et al. Quality-of-life changes and hearing impairment. A randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 1990; 113 (03) 188-194
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Mulrow CD, Tuley MR, Aguilar C. Sustained benefits of hearing aids. J Speech Hear Res 1992; 35 (06) 1402-1405
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 McKee MM, Moreland C, Atcherson SR, Zazove P. Hearing loss: communicating with the patient who is deaf or hard of hearing. FP Essent 2015; 434: 24-28
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Cárdenas-Valladolid J, Martín-Madrazo C, Salinero-Fort MA, Carrillo de-Santa Pau E, Abánades-Herranz JC, de Burgos-Lunar C. PATER Group. Prevalence of adherence to treatment in homebound elderly people in primary health care: a descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre study. Drugs Aging 2010; 27 (08) 641-651
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 McKee MM, Paasche-Orlow MK, Winters PC. et al. Assessing health literacy in Deaf American Sign Language users. J Health Commun 2015; 20 (Suppl. 02) 92-100
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Dewalt DA, Berkman ND, Sheridan S, Lohr KN, Pignone MP. Literacy and health outcomes: a systematic review of the literature. J Gen Intern Med 2004; 19 (12) 1228-1239
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Sheridan SL, Halpern DJ, Viera AJ, Berkman ND, Donahue KE, Crotty K. Interventions for individuals with low health literacy: a systematic review. J Health Commun 2011; 16 (Suppl. 03) 30-54
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Sindhusake D, Mitchell P, Smith W. et al. Validation of self-reported hearing loss. The Blue Mountains Hearing Study. Int J Epidemiol 2001; 30 (06) 1371-1378
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Gomez MI, Hwang SA, Sobotova L, Stark AD, May JJ. A comparison of self-reported hearing loss and audiometry in a cohort of New York farmers. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2001; 44 (06) 1201-1208
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Chou R, Dana T, Bougatsos C, Fleming C, Beil T. Screening adults aged 50 years or older for hearing loss: a review of the evidence for the U.S. preventive services task force. Ann Intern Med 2011; 154 (05) 347-355
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar