This session is developed by, and presenters invited by, Hearing, Tinnitus and Vestibular Science. Within hearing care, significant disparities persist despite the highly prevalent nature of age-related hearing loss and few hearing-related trials include representation of racial and ethnic minorities that reflects U.S. diversity. Novel approaches are needed to increase the diversity of participants and address disparities. Evidence is emerging that supports hearing care delivery in partnership with community health workers (CHWs). HEARS is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that examined the efficacy of a CHW-delivered intervention using OTC hearing technology. The HEARS RCT represents one of the largest community-based cohort of older adults with hearing loss with significant representation of African American and low-income older adults. This talk will review the latest understanding of hearing care disparities and share the approach and findings of the HEARS RCT. Community-engaged research along with community-delivered hearing care may offer critical steps in advancing approaches responsive to the needs of a wider population of older adults.
Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the current epidemiology of hearing care disparities among older Americans.
Apply community-engaged approaches to recruitment and retention within hearing care trials.
Assess community-delivered approaches to hearing care and the latest evidence supporting CHW-partnered care for older adults.
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