Abstract
To investigate hearing aid utilization rates among populations with varying hearing aid insurance benefits. A retrospective cohort study was performed. A total of 377 patients were included in the study after being identified through consecutive, hearing loss-related otology clinic visits. With respect to hearing aid benefits, patients were separated into full, partial, and no coverage populations. Chart reviews identified if a patient underwent hearing aid evaluation and fitting. Audiometric data were collected. Chi-square tests of independence and two-sided Z-tests were used for statistical analysis. ANOVA single-factor analysis testing was used to analyze pure tone averages (PTA) and word recognition scores (WRS) data. The 377 patients who met criteria included: full insurance coverage (n = 210, mean age = 45 years), partial coverage (n = 82, mean age = 65 years), and no coverage (n = 85, mean age = 54 years). The full- and partial-coverage populations each had significantly higher hearing aid utilization rates (78% and 79%, respectively) than the no-coverage population (49%, p < 0.001). No statistical difference in mean PTA or WRS was noted among the three coverage categories. Patients with at least partial financial coverage are more likely to acquire hearing aids than those without despite similar degrees of hearing loss. This implies that the out-of-pocket cost of hearing aids is a primary impediment to hearing aid adoption and provides a useful road map for public and private insurers considering hearing aid coverage. Level III (retrospective cohort study) Laryngoscope, 2025.
Published Version
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