Lauren Dillard, Ph.D., Au.D., M.S.
Assistant Professor
Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Medical University of South Carolina
Considering Public Health Principles of Screening to Advance Hearing Health Care
This presentation is guided by a public health framework of the principles that should be met to recommend screening for any disease or condition, including age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Dr. Dillard will provide an overview of her research contributing to the evidence base to support several principles related to screening for ARHL, including (1) the natural history should be understood, (2) treatment should be accepted and better at an earlier stage and (3) there should be an agreed upon policy on whom to treat. Key results towards each of the principles are as follows. First, declines to hearing occur across the entire adult lifespan and vary by key demographic and health-related risk factors; improved understanding on the natural history of ARHL can inform understanding on when to begin screening and treatment. Second, rates of hearing aid uptake among the general population are low; preliminary suggest that earlier intervention could improve long-term hearing aid outcomes. Third, tools of self-reported hearing difficulty may be beneficial in determining whom to treat. In addition, Dr. Dillard will present data on the outcomes of a large-scale program to screen for ARHL and future research directions aiming to maximize the impact of screening for ARHL.