Screening for Auditory Impairment - Which Hearing Assessment Test (SAI-WHAT): RCT design and baseline characteristics

Bevan Yueh*, Margaret P. Collins, Pamela E. Souza, Patrick J. Heagerty, Chuan Fen Liu, Edward J. Boyko, Carl F. Loovis, Stephen A. Fausti, Susan C. Hedrick

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Effective screening programs should not merely detect presence of disease, but also lead to long-term benefit. We describe the rationale and design of the first randomized clinical trial to study the long-term effects of routine screening for hearing loss. We also describe the baseline characteristics of the randomized cohort. Methods: We randomized 2305 veterans age 50 years or older to a control arm without screening, or to screening with: physiologic testing (AudioScope), a self-administered questionnaire (Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening version [HHIE-S]), or both tests. The primary outcome measure will be hearing aid use one year after screening. We will also study a number of secondary outcomes, including appointments made with and visits to an audiologist, cases of aidable hearing loss, hearing aids dispensed, self-rated communication ability, and hearing-related quality of life. Results: Baseline demographic and health status measures were evenly distributed across the screening arms. The percentage of patients who screened positive for hearing loss was 18.6%, 59.2%, and 63.6% for the AudioScope, HHIE-S, and combined screening arms, respectively. Implications: Long-term results are needed to gain insight into whether the AudioScope is associated with high rates of false negative screening, the HHIE-S is associated with high rates of false positive screening, or a combination of both. Identifying the best screening program will depend on determining which strategy leads to successful hearing aid use.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)303-315
Number of pages13
JournalContemporary Clinical Trials
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2007

Funding

This work is supported by a grant from the Health Services Research and Development Service of the Veterans Health Administration (IIR 99-377). Dr. Yueh was also supported by a career development award from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research and Development Service (#CD-98-318). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Hearing aids
  • Hearing loss
  • Patient compliance
  • Patient outcome assessment
  • Quality of life
  • Randomized controlled trials
  • Rehabilitation of hearing impaired
  • Screening
  • Treatment effectiveness

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology (medical)

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