The Relationship Between Participation In A Hearing Aid Orientation Program And The Need For Walk In Hearing Aid Clinic Services

One of the anticipated outcomes of the Hearing Aid Orientation Program (HOP) at the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Baltimore, Maryland was a reduction in the number of hearing aid walk-in clinic visits. This study was conducted to evaluate if there was a difference in the number of walk-in clinic visits between 30 veterans who opted to attend a HOP and 30 veterans who chose not to attend. The data were analyzed for differences between the HOP and non-HOP groups, for reasons the patients went to walk-in clinic, and for other factors that may have affected the number of walk-in hearing aid clinic visits. No statistically significant difference was found between the number of walk-in clinic visits for HOP and non-HOP veterans. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of walk-in clinic visits between patients who paid for hearing aids and those who received free hearing aids.

Of tremendous value to audtiologists. -- Ear and HearingParents will turn frequently to this wonderfully thought-out handbook. -- SHHH JournalThe Hearing Aid Handbook consists of three volumes for audiologists and other clinicians to help clients learn to use and maintain hearing aids.Planned for three classes, the Clinician's Guide explains exactly how to conduct the initial visit, fit ear molds, clean and maintain hearing aids, and adjust amplification. Clinicians also will learn to encourage the use of visual clues, speechreading, and contextual clues to ensure a high rate of success for their clients.The User's Guides feature information and worksheets for hearing aid wearers and their families and friends.

The loss of hearing - be it gradual or acute, mild or severe, present since birth or acquired in older age - can have significant effects on one's communication abilities, quality of life, social participation, and health. Despite this, many people with hearing loss do not seek or receive hearing health care. The reasons are numerous, complex, and often interconnected. For some, hearing health care is not affordable. For others, the appropriate services are difficult to access, or individuals do not know how or where to access them. Others may not want to deal with the stigma that they and society may associate with needing hearing health care and obtaining that care. Still others do not recognize they need hearing health care, as hearing loss is an invisible health condition that often worsens gradually over time. In the United States, an estimated 30 million individuals (12.7 percent of Americans ages 12 years or older) have hearing loss. Globally, hearing loss has been identified as the fifth leading cause of years lived with disability. Successful hearing health care enables individuals with hearing loss to have the freedom to communicate in their environments in ways that are culturally appropriate and that preserve their dignity and function. Hearing Health Care for Adults focuses on improving the accessibility and affordability of hearing health care for adults of all ages. This study examines the hearing health care system, with a focus on non-surgical technologies and services, and offers recommendations for improving access to, the affordability of, and the quality of hearing health care for adults of all ages.

It is estimated that over 360 million people have hearing loss worldwide, making it one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions (WHO, 2015). Hearing aids are the most common form of treatment for hearing loss. However, less than a fourth of individuals with a diagnosed hearing loss use hearing aids (Kochkin et al., 2010). Low rates of hearing aid use have been associated with lower levels of education, income, and financial support (Bainbridge & Ramachandran, 2014; Nieman et al., 2016). Numerous programs and foundations exist that provide financial assistance for hearing aids for low-income individuals that have hearing loss. Studies on existing low income program have found that these programs were successful at providing hearing aids to low-income individuals but that follow-up appointments were necessary to address patient's concerns and monitor long-term outcomes of hearing aid benefit (Freitas & Costa, 2007; Iwahashi, Jardim, & Bento, 2013). The purpose of this study was to conduct a retrospective chart review of 100 patients that have received hearing aids and services through the LASH program at the TU-HBC. Information regarding patient population characteristics (i.e., age, gender, hearing loss) and program outcomes were recorded from the patient charts. This study revealed that a majority of the patients seen through the LASH program qualified for reduced service fees, which suggests that the program is reaching the target population. A total of 23 participants were lost to follow-up and there was a wide range in the duration between the fitting and first follow-up appointment. About half of the participants required at least one repair. These findings suggest the need for a better follow-up protocol to monitor long-term use. Overall, the amount of revenue the TU-HBC generated from participating in the program was as expected, which indicates that participation in the LASH program is not detrimental to the clinic financially. Future research should focus on gathering more detailed information regarding patient demographics, comparing outcomes of LASH patients to patients with private pay or insurance, and include subject questionnaires to get a better understanding of the patient's personal experience with the hearing aids.