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20Q: Hearing Loss and the Health Care System

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1.  What statement best describes the research regarding persons with hearing loss navigating the American healthcare system? There is a large volume of current research on this topic. There is a large volume of older research on this topic, but no current research. There is relatively little research and information in this area. There is no research in this area and no need for it since the incidence of hearing loss is low.

2.  Information about how patients navigate the health care system may refer to: Help-seeking behaviors such as delaying care. Patient-provider communications. Patient safety and quality indicators. All of the above

3.  Hearing loss may directly or indirectly affect patient-provider communications, resulting in: Patients with hearing loss have a better understanding of discharge instructions. Patients with hearing loss have higher adherence to treatment. Patients with hearing loss may have lower adherence to treatment. Hearing loss does not affect patient-provider communications.

4.  Which of the following statements can be made about the literature on patient-provider communication? Most studies on the topic list hearing ability as the number one factor influencing patient-provider communication. Few studies on patient-provider communication look at hearing loss among the factors. Since hearing loss does not impact communication it should not be included in studies of patient-provider communication. The literature on patient-provider communication concludes that hearing loss helps patient-provider communication.

5.  Which of the following statements is true in regard to the authors research on hearing los and health care utilization? People with hearing loss have a higher rate of hospitalization and longer hospital stays on average than people without hearing loss. People with hearing loss have a lower rate of hospitalization and shorter hospital stays on average than people without hearing loss. People with hearing loss have a lower rate of emergency room visits than people without hearing loss. People with hearing loss have a lower risk of experiencing a 30-day readmission to the hospital.

6.  How does hearing loss impact cost in health care? There is higher health care spending among people without hearing loss as compared to people with hearing loss. People with hearing loss have higher health care spending due to the cost of hearing aids and assistive devices. People with hearing loss have higher health care spending even when the cost of hearing aids is not included. There is no difference in health care spending between people with and without hearing loss.

7.  Delirium is defined as: An acute change in mental status and inattention. A long-term mental disorder of a type involving faulty perception, inappropriate actions and a sense of mental fragmentation. A developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterized by difficulty in social interaction. Intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations.

8.  How is hearing loss related to delirium? Hearing loss is associated with delirium, but delirium is multi-factorial. Delirium causes hearing loss. Hearing loss causes delirium. There is no relationship between hearing loss and delirium.

9.  Willink and colleagues (2018) found which of the following to be true about hearing aid users who reported NOT using hearing care services in the past 12 months as compared to those who use hearing care services? They had lower health care costs. They had higher health care costs. They had higher hearing aid satisfaction. They reported better quality of life.

10.  Which of the following is an example of how the ENHANCE program is addressing hearing loss in the hospital inpatient setting? Integrating a self-report hearing question into the admissions process. Supply hospital floors with assistive devices for individuals. Educate hospital providers and staff on how best to communicate with patients with hearing loss. All of the above