Access to hearing healthcare and barriers among United States Veterans: A survey-based study

Abstract: Objective: We investigated use of hearing care among US veterans and explore motivations, barriers, and adherence to hearing healthcare. Study Design: Cross-sectional online survey. Setting: US Veterans. Methods: This cross-sectional, online survey-based study included 287 respondents who identified themselves as veterans on Research Match (NIH-sponsored national registry of research volunteers). Questions regarding hearing loss, tinnitus, use of hearing care, and facilitators/barriers to hearing care were asked. Descriptive statistics were utilized for data analysis. Results: In this cohort, the rate of self-reported hearing loss and tinnitus were 61.0% and 74.2%, respectively. Among these, 66.9% of those with hearing loss and 36.2% of those with tinnitus reported seeking hearing care. Most important motivators of seeking hearing care (average on 1-5 Likert scale) included personal importance of hearing (4.0; SD = 1.1), difficulty hearing others (3.6; SD = 1.1), and degree of hearing loss (3.3; SD = 1.1). Most common barriers included uncertainty regarding who to reach out to for hearing care (42.9%), inability to get time off work (34.3%), and nervousness about seeing a provider (28.6%). Common reasons to decline hearing aids reporting that hearing was not bad enough for hearing aids (72.2%) and included inability to afford hearing aid (55.6%). Conclusion: In this cohort, many US veterans sought care for hearing loss, though barriers still exist, including uncertainty regarding how to access appropriate care, being too far from a provider, and challenges with cost. Future studies should investigate methods to alleviate these internal and external barriers to hearing care and emphasize the importance of motivators for seeking care.