HEARSHearing Equality through
Accessible Research & Solutions
A Community-Delivered, Affordable, AccessibleHearing Care Intervention for Older Adults
Carrie L. Nieman MD MPH
Sara Mamo AuD PhD CCC-A, Nicole Marrone PhD CCC-A, Sarah Szanton PhD CRNP, Elizabeth Tanner PhD MS RN,
Roland Thorpe PhD MS, Frank R. Lin MD PhD
Cognitive Vitality & Avoiding Dementia
Avoiding Injury
Hearing Loss & Healthy AgingRecent Epidemiologic Studies
HealthyAging
Maintaining Physical Mobility & Activity
Health Economic Outcomes/Mortality
Keeping Socially Engaged & Active
Hearing Loss & Hearing Aid UsePrevalence in the U.S. , 1999-2006
Arch Int Med, 2012
Goals
Accessible
Affordable
Community Delivered
The Intervention
Education
Aural Rehabilitation
Amplification Device
Social Cognitive Theory
Human Factors Approach
User-Centered Design
The HEARSIntervention
1 32Hearing
Screening
Device Fitting &
OrientationEducation &
Counseling
Hearing
How are you?How are
you?
Hearing Loss
of Hearing Loss
How are you?
How are you?
Listen by Mister Pixel from The Noun ProjectBrain by Marek Polakovic from The Noun Project
© 2014 Johns Hopkins University
54
14
Place the Battery, Turn on CS-50
Battery Earpiece
ONReadyto use
Checklist
Connect battery to earpiece
Indicate when CS-50 is ON
© 2014 Johns Hopkins University
Community Partners
Sites: Weinberg Place, Manor East, Manhattan Park
Baltimore HEARS PilotDemographics
Our 15 participants were...
71.2 years old (median)
60% Minority
80% Live Alone
53.3% HS Education or less
66.7% Less than $25,000 Income/Year
93.3% Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss
Baltimore HEARS PilotChange in Hearing Handicap
None Mild Moderate Significant
Mean change = - 9.5Effect Size = -0.96
Hearing aids = -8 to -16
HHIE - Baseline
Baltimore HEARS PilotChange in Depression
Minimal Mild ModerateModerate-
SevereSevere
Mean change = - 1.93Effect Size = -0.43
PHQ9 - Baseline
Baltimore HEARS Pilot3-Month Program Evaluation
Our participants...
86.7% Would not be able to use his/her device as well without the program
93.3% Benefited from the program
80% Felt more connected with others
100% Would recommend the program
66.7% Interested in helping train others
HEARS Adaptations
Sara Mamo Janet Choi
BaltimoreHEARS
Memory ClinicHEARS
K-HEARS
Weinberg Senior Living
Memory Clinic HEARS PilotFeedback – Son-in-law of a 91 y/o woman with MMSE of 17
HEARSInitial Experience
Preliminary efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility
One-time visit delivered in the community
Low-cost, over-the-counter technology
Next StepsTrain-the-trainer materials
Partnership with the MICA Center for Social Design
Larger RCT
Communication
Social Engagement
Healthy Aging
Hearing Care for All
Mentor:Dr. Frank Lin
Co-Mentors:Dr. Sarah Szanton PhD CRNP, School of Nursing
Dr. Laura Gitlin, PhD, School of Nursing
Dr. Ibby Tanner PhD MS RN, School of Nursing
Dr. Roland Thorpe PhD MS, School of Public Health
Dr. Nicole Marrone PhD, CCC-A, University of AZ
Community Collaborator:Ms. Cindy Zonies, Weinberg Senior Living
Acknowledgments:SM
Mentors:
Dr. Eric Rice PhD MEd, School of Engineering
Kunal Parikh, Schools of Medicine & Engineering
Amanda Allen, emocha
Acknowledgments:
SM
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