NCT03442296

Baltimore HEARS: Hearing Health Equity Through Accessible Research & Solutions

Baltimore HEARS Study: Addressing Hearing Impairment and Social Engagement Through Community-delivered Hearing Care

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 151 (actual)
• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years – 100 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Age-related hearing loss is highly prevalent and hearing health care is underutilized. The primary objective of the proposed randomized controlled trial is to investigate the efficacy of a community health worker (CHW)-delivered hearing loss intervention program. A preceding pilot study demonstrated preliminary effectiveness of the intervention program in reducing self-reported hearing handicap, and highlighted its acceptability among the target demographic. The proposed trial will now expand upon lessons learned through previous pilot studies and expand to other affordable residences for low-to-moderate income older adults in Baltimore. Primary outcome measurements will investigate intervention effects on hearing handicap, with secondary measurements investigating effects on domains such as social isolation and quality of life. This trial is a first-in-kind investigation of a novel community-based intervention that addresses hearing loss in a vulnerable, urban population.

Conditions

• Age-related Hearing Impairment 1
• Personal Communication

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Baltimore HEARS	Tailored aural rehabilitation for participant and communication partner (if applicable)
DEVICE	Baltimore HEARS	Tailored fitting and programming of a personal sound amplifier. This will be accompanied by a component of aural rehabilitation.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-04-18
• Primary completion: 2020-06-17
• Completion: 2021-07-14
• First posted: 2018-02-22
• Last updated: 2022-10-04
• Results posted: 2021-10-14

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States