title: Hearing Loss: Diagnosis and Evaluation.
abstract: Hearing loss is a common disability in the United States, most frequent among men, elderly individuals, and veterans but is increasingly affecting other younger adults. Types of hearing loss include sensorineural, conductive, and mixed. Hearing loss in children often is related to infections, time spent in a neonatal intensive care unit, and genetic etiologies. Presbycusis (ie, age-related hearing loss) is the most common etiology in adults. Adverse effects of untreated hearing loss include isolation, depression, lower income, and higher unemployment. Hearing aid use reduces levels of disability, cognitive impairment, and psychosocial distress while improving quality of life. At least 75% of individuals with hearing loss are not receiving treatment for it. All infants should be screened for hearing loss, as should children and adults with risk factors. The Joint Commission on Infant Hearing Screening has a 1-3-6 goal for screening: identification by age 1 month, confirmation by age 3 months, and intervention by age 6 months. The presence of an ongoing physician-patient relationship increases the likelihood that a patient will admit to having a hearing loss. Adults can be screened using single-question or standardized instrument screens. All patients with suspected hearing loss should undergo audiometry by an audiology subspecialist.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr M7300 Med Sci I SPC 5625, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5625.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zazove
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas Department of Audiology & Speech Pathology, 5820 Asher Avenue University Plaza Suite 600, Little Rock, AR 72204, sratcherson@ualr.edu.
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Atcherson
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moreland
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine, 1018 Fuller St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1213, mmmckee@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McKee