Hearing Impairment: Significant but Underassessed in Primary Care Settings

In this study, 91 older adults with hearing impairment were interviewed and asked whether their primary care providers had ever inquired about or initiated screening for hearing loss. A total of 85% indicated there had been no physician inquiry, and additional data demonstrated that the rate of inquiry was unrelated to either objective or subjective levels of hearing loss. In addition, interview narratives revealed that hearing impairment was sometimes dismissed by primary care providers, with detrimental consequences for both the individuals with hearing impairment and their communication partners. Nurses could positively influence the initiation of treatment for hearing loss by incorporating screening techniques into their assessment routines.