3
Key Action Statements
Table 1. Summary of Guideline Key Action Statements (KAS)
Statement Action Strength
KAS 1. Screening for
hearing loss
Clinicians should screen patients
aged 50 years and older for hearing
loss at the time of a healthcare
encounter.
Recommendation
KAS 2. Ear exam
and other ear
conditions
If screening suggests hearing loss,
clinicians should examine the ear
canal and tympanic membrane with
otoscopy or refer to a clinician that
can examine the ears for cerumen
impaction, infection, or other
abnormalities.
Recommendation
KAS 3. Sociodemographic
factors and patient
preferences
If screening suggests hearing
loss, clinicians should identify
sociodemographic factors and
patient preferences that influence
access to and utilization of hearing
health care.
Recommendation
KAS 4. Hearing test If screening suggests hearing loss,
clinicians should obtain or refer
to a clinician who can obtain an
audiogram.
Strong
Recommendation
KAS 5. Identifying
conditions other
than ARHL
Clinicians should evaluate and
treat or refer to a clinician who can
evaluate and treat patients with
significant asymmetric hearing
loss, conductive or mixed hearing
loss, or poor word recognition on
diagnostic testing.
Recommendation
KAS 6. Patient education
and counseling
Clinicians should educate and
counsel patients with hearing loss and
their family/care partner(s) about
the impact of hearing loss on their
communication, safety, function,
cognition, and quality of life.
Recommendation
KAS 7. Communication
strategies
and assistive
technologies
Clinicians should counsel patients
with hearing loss on communication
strategies and assistive listening
devices (ALDS).
Recommendation
KAS 8. Amplification Clinicians should offer, or refer
to a clinician who can offer,
appropriately fit amplification to
patients with ARHL.
Strong
Recommendation
