Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care

Summary Table of Recommendations

Prevention of Hearing Impairment and Disability in the Elderly

Prepared by Christopher Patterson, MD, FRCPC, Professor and Head, Division of Geriatric Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

These recommendations were finalized by the Task Force in March 1994


 
 
MANEUVER EFFECTIVENESS LEVEL OF EVIDENCE <REF> RECOMMENDATION
Screening for hearing impairment. Audioscope has high sensitivity for detecting hearing loss. Case series <13-16> (III) Fair evidence to screen the elderly for hearing impairment. (B)
A single question about hearing difficulty has high sensitivity for detecting significant hearing loss. Case series <4> (III) 
Whispered-voice out of field of vision has high sensitivity for detecting hearing loss.  Case series <12> (III) 
Hearing aids improve the quality of life in individuals who are hearing impaired. Randomized controlled trial <22> (I)
Noise control programs and hearing protection. Multiple studies demonstrate relationship between noise exposure and hearing loss. Cohort analytic studies <20> (II-2) Good evidence to support noise control and hearing protection programs. (A)

Link to Full Text of this review

Link to Structured Abstract of this review

Link to Selected References list of this review

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