Examining Pathways to Hearing Screenings in Geriatric Primary Care Practice

Abstract

Complex problems rarely have simple solutions. As we consider aging adults and their approaches to treatment for hearing loss, we find there are a variety of factors that play a role in how a patient approaches hearing health care, much less how they engage with these services. The purpose of this literature review is to create a better understanding of factors impacting geriatric patients and access pathways to hearing health care. Specifically, this paper will address patient pathways to hearing and hearing health care services via primary care practitioners (PCPs) and Medicare coverage as the two primary gate keepers in accessing these services within the older population. Medical education curricula are reviewed, theoretical models and frameworks are discussed, as well as consideration of systematic barriers to care identified through literature review. This paper concludes with recommendations for improving access to hearing health care via PCPs and Medicare coverage for the older adult patient population.