Ep. 2023-06: Sarah Curtis, AuD, on Hearing Health Care Inequality

Dr. Sarah Curtis shares what to keep in mind when treating a low-income patient. Dr. Curtis is the owner of Sounds of Life Hearing Center in Concord, Ohio. She also operates the nonprofit Hearing the Call - Northeast Ohio ( hearingthecall.org ).

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PubMed·Journal article·Public health & policy·7w ago

Outcomes of a Large-Scale Pilot Hearing Screening Program at an Academic Medical Center

Clinic owners and audiologists should review the implementation outcomes reported here, as large-scale embedding of hearing screening in primary care settings has shown promise for improving early detection pipelines — though local feasibility and referral capacity must be...

PubMed·Journal article·Public health & policy·3w ago

Primary Care Screening and Management of Hearing Loss in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Audiologists should be aware that referral gaps exist at the primary care level; advocate for standardized screening protocols in primary care settings to improve early identification and referral of older adults with hearing loss.

PubMed·Journal article·Public health & policy·7w ago

Factors associated with responses to hearing screening questions among older adults

Audiologists and screening program designers should account for demographic and psychosocial factors (e.g., age, health literacy, stigma) that influence self-reported hearing screening responses, as these factors may affect detection accuracy in older adults.

PubMed·Journal article·Public health & policy·5w ago

Longitudinal Trends in Medicaid Hearing Aid Coverage for Adults in the United States: 2003-2023

No immediate change to clinical protocols is indicated, but audiologists treating Medicaid patients should be aware that coverage eligibility varies widely by state and has shifted substantially over the past two decades — check current state-specific Medicaid policies when...

PubMed·Journal article·Public health & policy·6d ago

Hearing loss and healthcare expenditures in the United States: evidence of a public health market failure

This study reinforces the systemic underutilisation of hearing healthcare in the US; audiologists should be aware of access and affordability barriers that prevent patients from seeking care, as these are structural rather than individual-level issues.

PubMed·Journal article·Public health & policy·6w ago

Understanding the factors influencing targeted congenital CMV screening: perspectives from hearing screening staff

Audiologists and hearing screening coordinators should be aware of specific staff-identified barriers (e.g., workflow, awareness, resources) to cCMV screening; findings can guide local implementation efforts, though no universal protocol change is mandated by this study alone.

PubMed·Journal article·Public health & policy·5d ago

Worsened multitasking performance with simulated hearing protection correlates with individuals' choice not to "wear" it

No direct change to audiology clinical practice; findings reinforce that hearing protection comfort and usability — including dual-task performance — should be considered when recommending occupational hearing protection devices.

PubMed·Journal article·Public health & policy·2w ago

A Systematic Review and Quality Assessment of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Otitis Externa to Support the WHO Package of Ear and Hearing Care Interventions

Clinicians should cross-reference their local otitis externa protocols with the WHO-aligned best-practice recommendations identified in this review, particularly in settings where formal guidelines may be absent or outdated.