Clinical Practice Guideline: Age-Related Hearing Loss
Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Tsai Do, B. S., Bush, M. L., et al. (2024).
Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 170(S2), S1-S54.
<div>This clinical practice guideline provides recommendations for clinicians on the identification and management of age-related hearing loss in adults 50 years of age and older. </div>
American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation
American Neurotology Society; American Otological Society; American Public Health Association; Society of Physician Assistants in Otorhinolaryngology / Head & Neck Surgery; American Geriatrics Society
<div>"If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should examine the ear canal and tympanic membrane with otoscopy or refer to a clinician who can examine the ears for cerumen impaction, infection, or other abnormalities" (<strong>Recommendation, Grade B,</strong> p. S11).</div>
<div>"If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should identify sociodemographic factors and patient preferences that influence access to and utilization of hearing health care" (<strong>Recommendation, Grade C, </strong>p. S15).</div>
<div>"If screening suggests hearing loss, clinicians should obtain or refer to a clinician who can obtain an audiogram" (<strong>Strong Recommendation, Grade A</strong> for audiograms/<strong>Grade B</strong> for other objective measures, p. S16).</div>
<div>"Clinicians should evaluate and treat or refer to a clinician who can evaluate and treat patients with significant asymmetric hearing loss, conductive or mixed hearing loss, or poor word recognition on diagnostic testing" (<strong>Recommendation, Grade C, </strong>p. S17).</div>
<div>"Clinicians should educate and counsel patients with hearing loss and their family/care partner(s) about the impact of hearing loss on their communication, safety, function, cognition, and quality of life" (<strong>Recommendation, Grade B,</strong> p. S18).</div>
<div>"Clinicians should counsel patients with hearing loss on communication strategies and assistive listening devices (ALDs)" (<strong>Recommendation, Grade B,</strong> p. S21).</div>
<div>"Clinicians should offer, or refer to a clinician who can offer, appropriately fit amplification to patients with ARHL" (<strong>Strong Recommendation, Grade A,</strong> p. S24).</div>
<div>"Clinicians should refer patients for an evaluation of CI candidacy when patients have appropriately fit amplification and persistent hearing difficulty with poor speech understanding" (<strong>Strong Recommendation, Grade A,</strong> p. S25).</div>
<div>"For patients with hearing loss, clinicians should assess if communication goals have been met and if there has been improvement in hearing‐related quality of life at a subsequent health care encounter or within 1 year" (<strong>Recommendation, Grade C,</strong> p. S28).</div>
<div>"Clinicians should assess hearing at least every 3 years in patients with known hearing loss or with reported concern for changes in hearing" (<strong>Option, Grade C,</strong> p. S29).</div>
