Hearing healthcare utilisation among older adults with self-reported hearing loss during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

Abstract

Objective

To ascertain the prevalence, causes, and risk factors of hearing healthcare delays in older people with self-reported hearing loss in the United States.

Design

This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Ageing Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally representative survey of Medicare beneficiaries. A supplemental COVID-19 survey was mailed to the participants from June to October 2020.

Study sample

By January 2021, 3257 participants had returned completed COVID-19 questionnaires, with the majority having been self-administered between July and August 2020.

Results

The participants in the study represented 32.7 million older adults in the US, with 29.1% reporting hearing loss. Among over 12.4 million older adults who put off needed or planned medical care, 19.6% of those with self-reported hearing loss and 24.5% of hearing aid or device users stated they delayed hearing appointments. Approximately 629,911 older adults with hearing devices were impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak for audiological services. The top three reasons were deciding to wait, service cancellation, and fear of going. Education and race/ethnicity were associated with delaying hearing healthcare.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted hearing healthcare utilisation among older adults with self-reported hearing loss in 2020, with both patient- and provider- initiated delays.

Keywords:

• Self-reported hearing loss
• hearing healthcare utilisation
• COVID-19 pandemic
• older adults

Acknowledgments

The author is thankful to Chuan-Ming Li, Kathleen E. Bainbridge, and Howard J. Hoffman for their feedback on paper text, tables, and figures.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author is a federal employee, and the study analysis was supported as part of the regular governmental research duty. The National Institutes of Health had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.