Hearing Resources and Outcomes in the Emergency Department (HERO-ED)

Hearing Resources and Outcomes in the Emergency Department (HERO-ED)

The Hearing Resources and Outcomes in the Emergency Department Pilot (HERO-ED Pilot), gathers preliminary data and hones procedures and measures, prior to undertaking HERO-ED. Since the HERO-ED Pilot does not involve random assignment (no control group), it will not test device effectiveness. However, the HERO-ED Pilot will test device acceptability and use. It will also provide preliminary data on, and allow us to fine-tune, the measures of effectiveness that we plan to use in HERO-ED

The objectives are:

1. Measure the feasibility of in-ED hearing screening using HHIE-S and a handheld audiometer, among low-acuity11 ED patients age ≥75 years, by quantifying the proportion of eligible patients who complete hearing screening.
2. Test whether low-acuity older ED patients who screen positive for significant hearing loss (> 40 dB HL bilaterally and HHIE-S > 24) and are provided a hearing assistance device (HAD) use that device during the ED visit.
3. Test whether patients who are given a hearing assistance device will report ability as opposed to disability in hearing and understanding, using a six-item questionnaire adapted from a study by Cox et al.
4. Test whether those who are given a hearing assistance device will report being prepared for post-discharge care, using an adapted subset of the Care Transitions Measures (CTM).
5. Assess patient understanding of the HAD survey items within the post-use survey.

Inclusion Criteria:

• low acuity clinical presentation (Emergency Severity Index11 triage criteria of 4 or 5, which indicates a high likelihood of being discharged home from the Emergency Department).
• Patients using hearing aids will not be excluded.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lack of capacity to consent, as defined by the patient's ability to satisfactorily answer the questions outlined in the Evaluation to Sign Consent form (ESC) mentioned in the protocol. A legal representative/family member will not be able to consent for the patient in this study.