Addressing Hearing Health Care Disparities among Older Adults in a US-Mexico Border Community

Maia Ingram, Nicole Marrone, Daisey Thalia Sanchez, Alicia Sander, Cecilia Navarro, Jill Guernsey de Zapien, Sonia Colina, Frances Harris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and impairment in daily living activities. Access to hearing health care has broad implications for healthy aging of the U.S. population. This qualitative study investigated factors related to the socio-ecological domains of hearing health in a U.S.–Mexico border community experiencing disparities in access to care. A multidisciplinary research team partnered with community health workers (CHWs) from a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in designing the study. CHWs conducted interviews with people with hearing loss (n = 20) and focus groups with their family/friends (n = 27) and with members of the community-at-large (n = 47). The research team conducted interviews with FQHC providers and staff (n = 12). Individuals experienced depression, sadness, and social isolation, as well as frustration and even anger regarding communication. Family members experienced negative impacts of deteriorating communication, but expressed few coping strategies. There was general agreement across data sources that hearing loss was not routinely addressed within primary care and assistive hearing technology was generally unaffordable. Community members described stigma related to hearing loss and a need for greater access to hearing health care and broader community education. Findings confirm the causal sequence of hearing impairment on quality of life aggravated by socioeconomic conditions and lack of access to hearing health care. Hearing loss requires a comprehensive and innovative public health response across the socio-ecological framework that includes both individual communication intervention and greater access to hearing health resources. CHWs can be effective in tailoring intervention strategies to community characteristics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number169
JournalFrontiers in Public Health
Volume4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 2016

Keywords

  • aging
  • community health workers
  • community-based participatory research
  • health disparities
  • hearing loss
  • socio-ecological model

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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