- Design
- Cross-sectional comparison of two national surveys
- Population
- 12,756 adults aged 55+ screened by device; 2,552 tested by audiometry
- Primary outcome
- Weighted prevalence of hearing loss
- Effect
- 54.8% (screener) vs 54.5% (audiometry), P = .82
This cross-sectional analysis compared hearing-loss prevalence in US adults aged 55 and over measured two ways: a handheld screening device in 12,756 participants of the Health and Retirement Study, and pure-tone audiometry in 2,552 participants of a national examination survey. Published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery on 29 September 2026.
Prevalence by the screener was 54.8%, against 54.5% by audiometry. Mild difficulty on the screener (48.8%) matched mild to moderate loss on audiometry (48.2%), and moderate to severe difficulty (6.1%) matched moderately severe or worse loss (6.2%).
The comparison is between populations, not within the same people, so it shows the screener gives accurate population estimates rather than accurate individual diagnosis. Still, it supports simple devices for case-finding where audiometry is scarce, as in much of primary care in India, with audiometry to confirm.
- Consider a handheld hearing screener for case-finding in adults over 55 where audiometry is not available
- Refer screen-positive adults for formal audiometry before fitting decisions
- Expect over half of adults aged 55 and over to have some measurable hearing loss
- Ask about hearing as part of routine reviews in older adults
Why it matters
It supports scaling hearing case-finding beyond audiology clinics.
Don't overread it
The match is at population level; the study did not test the screener's accuracy in individuals.
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