Uptake of internet-delivered UK adult hearing assessment

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate uptake of the internet-based hearing test, with respect to the 11% of UK adults that have hearing loss but do not use hearing aids.

Design

Feasibility study in a primary care practice in the North of England.

Study Sample

Adults aged 50–74 years were sent postal invitations to complete an internet hearing test (N = 600). Those who completed the test, those who failed (>35 dB HL in the better ear) and demographic correlates (age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic level) were recorded.

Results

11.2% of invited adults completed the hearing test and 7.7% failed it. Those who took the test tended to have a higher socioeconomic background than those who did not. There were no differences in age, ethnicity or gender between those who took the test and those who did not.

Conclusions

An estimated 70% (7.7%/11.0%) of adults with hearing loss but who do not use hearing aids took the test. Uptake was equitable across most demographic categories. Uptake was high among a study sample that was substantially more deprived than the general UK population. Internet-based hearing testing offers an efficient paradigm for identifying hearing loss.

Keywords:

• Hearing mass screening telemedicine primary care

Disclosure statement

David Moore is a paid scientific advisor to HearX and Otonomy Inc. and a shareholder of HearX. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre and supported by NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre. The study is funded as part of the NIHR BRC Hearing Health Grant (ref no. IS-BRC-1215-20007).