Project Summary
Hearing loss impacts many adults of all ages, and 7 in 10 adults aged over 70 years. Despite significant associated health, well-being and financial costs, referrals for hearing care, hearing aid adoption and use are very low.
Addressing all three Hearing Health TCR objectives, this project will address the issues of low referral and low uptake of hearing aids by identifying barriers to referral in medical practice and hearing aid uptake and use in consumers. The economic implications of untreated hearing loss for the Australian population will also be evaluated.
New interventions to increase referrals and use of hearing aids and determination of the economic rate of return and cost-effectiveness of these will provide incentives for effective integration of this research evidence into health services and policy, leading to improved physical, cognitive, and mental health outcomes for many Australians of all ages.
Objectives
This project will address the issues of low referral and low uptake of hearing aids by:
- Identifying the barriers to hearing care referral in medical practice.
- Identifying the barriers to hearing aid uptake and use in consumers.
- Developing and evaluating the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of targeted interventions on the identified barriers.
- Determining the economic implications of untreated hearing loss for the Australian population.
Duration
2023 - 2026 (3 years)
Research Team
- Prof. Julia Sarant; Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology - Chief Investigator
- Prof. Ajay Mahal; Nossal Institute for Global Health
- Prof. Lena Sanci; Department of General Practice
- Prof. David Harris; Department of Economics
- Dr Sanne Peters; School of Health Sciences
PhD Candidates
Ella Davine
Ella is a PhD candidate in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology. Ella’s focus is on addressing the low rates of referral to hearing care specialists from medical practice. Through the identification of barriers to referral, Ella will contribute to the development of targeted interventions designed to increase rates of referral and give rise to a global improvement in hearing health outcomes.
Isha Hariname
Isha is a PhD candidate in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology. Isha’s focus is on addressing the low rates of hearing aid uptake and use among consumers. Through the identification of barriers to hearing intervention uptake, Isha will contribute to the development of targeted interventions designed to improve uptake and usage of hearing aids in adults with hearing loss, along with improved hearing health and quality of life outcomes
Participants
This study includes:
- General Practitioners across metropolitan and rural Victoria
- Adults aged 60 and over with hearing loss from Victorian
- The University of Melbourne Audiology Clinic
- Country Hearing Care
- Amplify Hearing and Diagnostics
Funding
- NH&MRC - Targeted Call for Research in Hearing Health Grant No. 2015556