To evaluate the effectiveness of an outreach hearing program in identifying and managing hearing loss among patients with intellectual disability.
Approach:
Study Design: The HörGeist study involved 1,053 patients with intellectual disability, aged 1 to 90 years, screened in everyday settings. Diagnostic testing and treatment referrals were provided based on screening results.
Follow-Up: The screening and intervention protocol was repeated after 1 year to assess changes in untreated or undertreated hearing loss.
Key Findings:
44% of patients were diagnosed with hearing loss, with 70% of those having previously undiagnosed hearing loss.
The percentage of patients with untreated or undertreated hearing loss declined from 41% to 38% over 1 year.
Only 27% of patients received treatment prescriptions or referrals after detection, with a follow-up adherence rate of 37%.
Among patients prescribed hearing aids, only 30% obtained them by the 1-year assessment.
Interpretation:
The outreach program effectively identified hearing loss but highlighted significant gaps in treatment uptake and adherence.
Limitations:
The study could not directly compare outreach and clinic-based approaches due to low participation in the clinic setting.
Some treatment recommendations may have been unnecessary or resolved spontaneously, potentially skewing intervention data.
Conclusion:
The outreach program was feasible for detecting hearing loss, but substantial gaps remain in the implementation of recommended care. Education and structured rehabilitation are essential for sustainable implementation.
