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

SUBMITTER: Ou H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11234923 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature