Hearing aid use among older adults is associated with fewer hospitalizations and emergency visits and fewer nights at the hospital, study finds.
Examining the data of 1,336 adults aged 65 to 85 years with severe hearing loss, researchers from University of Michigan found out that the 602 adults (42% of the study participants) who used hearing aids had fewer adverse health events than those who do not use hearing aids. The study reported that while the difference of the incidence of hospitalization or emergency room visit was only approximately two percentage points, it was large enough to be significant. Also, the research found out that those with hearing aids had shorter stays in the hospital.
The data used came from a self-reported survey by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The researchers had no objective measurement of how severe the participant's hearing loss, the number of hearing aids they use and the how consistently the hearing aids were used. "This was a cross-sectional study and had many limitations, yet I am still very confident about the findings," lead author Dr. Elham Mahmoudi, PhD, MBA. said. "We are involved in a longitudinal analysis of the effect of hearing aids among individuals with severe hearing loss and conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis of hearing aids."
Results of the study included cost implications. The use of hearing aid correlated with reduced Medicare expense, and higher annual health care spending and out-of-pocket spending.
"Hearing aids are not covered by Medicare. If they are covered by insurance, the out-of-pocket costs are relatively high. These financial barriers prevent many individuals from having access to proper hearing aids. Severe hearing loss affects a growing number of individuals, but it is an addressable disability issue. We are hoping that our findings encourage insurers—particularly Medicare—to cover hearing aids and the related care," Mahmoudi explained.
When asked about what inspired the study, Mahnmoudi told The Hearing Journal that it was personal. "My dad is 82 years old and has been suffering from severe hearing loss for many years. Hearing aids are expensive and are not covered by health insurance. If not fitted well by a specialist, they can be noisy and annoying. Consequently, my dad resisted using hearing aids despite his apparent need. As a result, I personally witnessed his hearing difficulty result in social isolation and fewer meaningful conversation with friends and family members. In February 2017, I started working in the Department of Family Medicine. I was amazed that the Chair of our Department, Dr. Phillip Zazove, and another faculty member, Dr. Michael McKee (both co-authors in this manuscript), are deaf yet, with the use of hearing devices, are excellent physicians and researchers. My motivation to complete this study was inspired by them."
Mahmoudi and colleagues are already examining five-year insurance data and patient data from the University of Michigan's academic medical center to further study the issue to see if hearing aids might be, in the longer run, more cost-effective.
Published: 4/27/2018 3:21:00 PM
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