Hearing Deficits in the Older Patient, April 18, 3pm

April Author in the Room© Teleconference

Patients, clinicians, and health care staff often do not recognize hearing loss, particularly in early stages. Simple office-based screening and evaluation procedures can identify potential hearing disorders, which should prompt audiologic referral to confirm the diagnosis with audiometric testing. For many older adults, accepting the need for amplification, selecting and purchasing a hearing aid, and getting accustomed to its use is a daunting and often frustrating process. Older adults with multiple morbidities or who are frail pose specific challenges to the management of hearing loss and may require an interdisciplinary, team-based approach to care.

Join Dr. Pacala as he discusses identification and care of older patients with hearing loss.

Studies with the potential to change clinical practice are published frequently in peer-reviewed journals such as JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association). However, studies of the implementation of such results into clinical practice demonstrate that results are rarely applied to all the patients who potentially could benefit. Many possible reasons exist for this lack of translating science into practice.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement has partnered with JAMA to facilitate the transition of science into practice through the series Author in the Room®. In this series, the author of a study published in JAMA with the potential to change clinical practice will talk with clinicians during a conference call, facilitated by clinical experts in implementing changes in practice.

The call will be followed by a discussion group and participants will be assessed to determine the degree to which they believe they have implemented change within their practice.

Please join us in this innovative initiative to translate research into practice. The Author in the Room® teleconference is brought to you by JAMA and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).