JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Effect of a Community Health Worker-Delivered Personal Sound Amplification Device on Self-Perceived Communication Function in Older Adults With Hearing Loss: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Age-related hearing loss that impairs daily communication is associated with adverse health outcomes, but use of hearing aids by older adults is low and disparities exist. ⋯ Among older adults with hearing loss, a community health worker-delivered personal sound amplification device intervention, compared with a wait-list control, significantly improved self-perceived communication function at 3 months. Findings are limited by the absence of a sham control, and further research is needed to understand effectiveness compared with other types of care delivery models and amplification devices.