Only Two in 10 Older Adults Report Being Screened for Hearing Loss

A report based on the results of the University of Michigan (U-M) National Poll on Healthy Aging found eight in 10 older adults in the United States have not been screened for hearing loss in primary care within the last two years, according to HealthDay News . Analysis of 2,074 U.S. adults aged 50 to 80 years in June 2020 determined that 51 percent rated their hearing as "excellent" or "very good," 33 percent described their hearing as "good," and 16 percent considered their hearing "fair" or "poor." Men were more likely than women to rate their hearing as "fair" or "poor," as were those 65 to 80 years old compared to those aged 50 to 64. In general, 6 percent of respondents reported using a hearing aid or cochlear implant, of whom 13 percent rated their hearing as "fair" or "poor." Just 20 percent said their primary care provider had inquired about their hearing in the previous two years. "These poll results are especially timely given the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's expected regulations regarding over-the-counter hearing aids, which could improve access but also make screening and testing more important for those who might seek to buy their own device without a prescription," said U-M's Preeti Malani.