Hearing Loss
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a community health worker intervention to expand access to hearing health care among older adults facing health disparities.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALcommunity health worker-audiologist communication education and support group
A 5-week educational program on hearing loss, communication strategies, and peer support facilitated by community health workers supervised by an audiologist.
Sponsors
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
University of Arizona
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Minimum age: 50 years * Audiometrically-confirmed hearing loss * Availability of a communication partner to attend the program with the participant * Be Spanish speaking and able to sign written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Cognitive impairment
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mean frequency of communication strategy use as measured at eight weeks post baseline for each of a series of study-specific strategies taught in the intervention | 8 weeks | Participants rate the frequency of use of each communication strategy on a five-point Likert scale. Communication strategies include such things as discussing hearing loss, talking face-to-face, and speaking slowly and clearly. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mean number of hearing health actions taken and number of people who took each hearing health action at eight weeks post baseline | 8 weeks | Questionnaire includes 7 possible actions for managing hearing health or accessing hearing health care services (discussed with family, discussed with doctor, discussed with specialist, had a hearing test, used an assistive device, used a hearing aid, used hearing protection). |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mean value for hearing-specific health-related quality of life at eight weeks post baseline as measured by a series of study-specific questions, some of which are adapted from the Self Assessment of Communication | 8 weeks | Participants rate the impact of hearing loss on various aspects of their lives, such as their emotional state and enjoyment of life. |
| Communication function with partner: Mean frequency and severity of communication-related challenges as measured by a series of study-specific questions at eight weeks post baseline | 8 weeks | Frequency and difficulty of communication-related challenges resulting from hearing loss. |
| Mean confidence in communication management at eight weeks post baseline as measured by a series of study-specific questions | 8 weeks | Participants rate their confidence in being able to manage their hearing loss and communication with family and other communication partners. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed