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Panel Presentations

Care Equity, Quality, and Safety

Hearing Health Equity Over the Life Course: A Primer on Health Equity and Promising Solutions

Tuesday, October 1, 2024
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT
Location: MBCC, 235-237
CME/MOC Credit: 1
Disclosure(s):
Carrie L. Nieman, MD, MPH:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Matthew L. Bush, MD, PhD, MBA:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Vivian F. Kaul, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Major national and international efforts have identified hearing health as a global public health priority and call otolaryngologists and hearing care professionals to action. From children to older adults, disparities in hearing health exist by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic position, rurality, among other social determinants of health. Access to effective communication and hearing health is increasingly recognized as fundamental to a patient’s health and well-being across their life course. Although hearing loss is highly prevalent, relatively little progress has been made in addressing existing disparities. The application of public health-driven approaches to hearing health is a novel and promising approach to understanding and addressing hearing health disparities. Through a public health lens, this presentation will introduce basic concepts around health disparities and health equity and explore what is known regarding disparities among children, adults, and older adults with hearing loss in the United States, including disparities related to cochlear implantation. Most importantly, the presentation will cover promising advances in closing gaps in care, including innovations in school-based hearing screening, broad application of telehealth, implementation of patient navigation programs, partnering with community health workers, leveraging over-the-counter hearing technology, and expanding access to cochlear implantation. This presentation will serve as a primer on the latest in hearing health with a focus on equity, what has been accomplished thus far, and actionable steps to joining the effort.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Explain basic concepts related to health disparities and health equity from a public health perspective.
  2. Analyze the current state of hearing health care and access in the United States.
  3. Discuss public health-driven approaches to expanding access to hearing care from children to adults to older adults.

    Moderator(s)

  • Carrie L. Nieman, MD, MPH

    Associate Professor
    Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
    Baltimore, MD, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Panelist(s)

  • Matthew L. Bush, MD, PhD, MBA

    Professor and Chair
    University of Kentucky
    Lexington, KY, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Susan D. Emmett, MD, MPH

    Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Epidemiology
    University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
    Little Rock, AR, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • Vivian F. Kaul, MD

    Assistant Professor
    University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
    Houston, Texas, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.