Journal of the AGS: COVID-19, masks, and hearing difficulty: Perspectives

Published by William James Deardorff MD, Sasha S. Binford PhD, Irene Cole PhD, Todd James MD, Megan Rathfon MA, MS, Stephanie Rennke MD, Margaret Wallhagen PhD, AGSF

INTRODUCTION

Hearing loss is common among adults and associated with increased healthcare utilization and miscommunications that lead to adverse events.1-4 Despite its importance, hearing loss is often unrecognized or underappreciated.5 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several safeguards have been implemented that may exacerbate communication difficulties among adults with hearing difficulties, including personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and face shields, physical distancing, and visitor restrictions. Therefore, we created and distributed a national survey to understand the perspectives of healthcare providers and identify potential interventions for improving communication in healthcare settings.

METHODS

Our final 37-question survey focused on changes in hearing loss awareness since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, communication challenges in the setting of increased mask use, and tools used by providers to improve communication. The survey was distributed from November 2020 to February 2021 via Listservs to professional societies and on social media websites. Informed consent was obtained online at the beginning of the survey....

Read the full article on AGS Journals here.