Authors' objectives:

"The objectives of this study were to show that hearing loss has a high enough prevalence in the older population to justify screening, if effective and acceptable methods are available, and that take-up and benefit can make a measurable outcome difference in quality of life." (from executive summary)

Authors' recommendations: Hearing impairment of moderate degree in adults is a highly prevalent major public health problem with a large impact on people's lives, which is left too late before access to services is achieved. One in ten people aged 55;74 years is substantially impaired and would benefit from referral. Lack of intervention impacts on activity and causes substantial participation restriction (handicap) in older people. Amplification gives substantial benefit to these people and this benefit can be realised by provision of good-quality hearing aids to people with this high degree of need. A simple systematic screen, using an audiometric screening instrument, has been shown to be acceptable to people in the age range 55;74 years, is likely to provide substantial benefit and may be cost-effective to those in that target group. Hearing screening appears to meet the National Screening Committee's criteria in most respects, provided screening is targeted at those with at least 35 dB HL better ear average. Based on the research carried out here there is sufficient evidence to support a larger and more definitive study of hearing screening. In addition, if screening is targeted on the younger age range, it will identify more people who are currently not likely to self-refer, where the additional benefits (e.g. from 10 years earlier identification) are more likely to be found. However, it should be noted that its benefit is not solely restricted to this group at present (as older people who would greatly benefit have not had any screening and have not self-referred).

Authors' methods: Review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.hta.ac.uk/1025

Year Published: 2007

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme

Contact Address: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK

Contact Name: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk

Contact Email: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk

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