Am Fam Physician. 2023;107(4):online
As published by the USPSTF.
| What does the USPSTF recommend? | For adults 50 years or older who have not noticed any issues with their hearing: The USPSTF found that the evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for hearing loss in older adults. More research is needed. I statement |
| To whom does the recommendation apply? | This recommendation applies to asymptomatic older adults (age ≥ 50 years) with age-related, sensorineural hearing loss. This recommendation is for persons who have not noticed any issues with their hearing. It does not apply to adults with conductive hearing loss, congenital hearing loss, sudden hearing loss, or hearing loss caused by recent noise exposure, or those reporting signs and symptoms of hearing loss. |
| What's new? | This recommendation is consistent with the 2012 USPSTF statement. |
| How to implement this recommendation? | There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against screening for hearing loss in persons with unrecognized hearing loss. Clinicians should use their clinical judgment about hearing testing for patients who have symptoms of hearing loss or who have raised concerns about their hearing. |
| Where to read the full recommendation statement? | Visit the USPSTF website or the JAMA Network website (https://jamanetwork.com/collections/44068/united-states-preventive-services-task-force) to read the full recommendation statement. This includes more details on the rationale of the recommendation, including benefits and harms; supporting evidence; and recommendations of others. |
The full recommendation statement is available at https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hearing-loss-in-older-adults-screening.
The USPSTF recommendations are independent of the U.S. government. They do not represent the views of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the U.S. Public Health Service.
