Patient safety and the annulment of medical clearance exams for hearing aids: Are we “closing the book” too soon?

Abstract

To determine the utility of medical clearance exams by otolaryngologists prior to the distribution of hearing aids to patients with hearing loss. Medical records of 313 consecutive hearing-impaired individuals seeking financial assistance for hearing aids from the Lions Hearing Center of Michigan and who presented for medical clearance exams between January 2014 and May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Separate determinations were made for each patient about (1) benefit from the exam and (2) avoidance of significant harm. Majority (64.2%; n=201) of patients benefited from medical clearance exams. Furthermore, 5.4% of patients (n=17) were found to have avoided significant harm due to administration of the medical clearance exam. Finally, 14.4% (n=45) were offered alternative interventions over conventional hearing aids. Medical clearance exams are beneficial to a majority of patients with hearing loss prior to receiving hearing aids. With the impending arrival of over-the-counter hearing aids in the United States, special consideration should be placed on educating the general public about the importance of the medical evaluation prior to purchasing any type of hearing aid.