Prioritize Patient Education for Better Hearing Health

A 2024 Synchrony hearing health survey found that 53% of respondents were more likely to schedule a hearing check after taking the survey.¹ The response underscores the critical role of patient education in motivating individuals to seek timely hearing care. 

Hearing healthcare practices, managers and providers can explore how effective patient education can not only help improve patient outcomes but also increase their willingness to adopt hearing technology and strengthen the provider-patient relationship.

Why Hearing Health Education Means Better Patient Care

The data point showing that key patient information can increase patients' willingness to get their hearing checked is just the tip of the iceberg. The finding that awareness of hearing loss realities can drive people to seek care is especially significant given the prevalence of hearing loss: 40% of young adults surveyed experience some degree of hearing loss, yet 69% of audiologists agree that young adults remain unaware of how their behaviors can impact long-term hearing health.¹ 

The impact of this lack of hearing health knowledge can have downstream effects on patients' overall health. Research from 2023 revealed a connection between hearing impairment and lower overall health literacy. The researchers concluded that it is essential for providers to explore new ways of accessing health information and improving the relationship between patients and healthcare providers.²

This puts hearing health providers on the front lines of patient education. According to the American Academy of Audiology, low health literacy can lead to misunderstandings, missed appointments and poor patient outcomes.³

Hearing Aid Technology 101 for Patients

It can be hard enough for people in the hearing care industry to keep up on the latest technology. Expecting patients to understand their options when it comes to hearing aid technology is a big ask. The consequences of not knowing about those advancements can be an obstacle to hearing care, as only 23% of respondents said they would be willing to wear a hearing device if one were necessary.¹

How might that number change if consumers knew about the latest in hearing technology, which might be more discreet or beneficial than they may be aware of? Hearing care providers can use the following strategies to educate patients about hearing aid technology: 

• Understand the barriers. A 2023 study found that the reasons given for the non-use of hearing aids by people with hearing loss include cost, stigma and not knowing they needed one.⁴ This information could help tailor patient education messaging. 
• Focus on the patient benefits of emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence and other technologies are improving hearing aids, but just as importantly, they are helping improve patient outcomes and experience.⁵ Talk to patients about practical benefits of the tech, like speech-in-noise testing that adapts aids to each patient's unique listening environment and in-home balance risk assessments for fall prevention.
• Continue education with new hearing aid users. A mobile hearing health study in 2023 found that continued educational support through a messaging app helped first-time hearing aid users acclimate to their devices.⁶
• Take the communication burden off patients. Communicating with patients who have or may have hearing loss can be challenging. Research has shown that understanding their condition and treatment options has traditionally fallen on the patient. Providers can lessen this burden by communicating clearly, not only with patients but also with patients' families and through peer support groups.⁷

Engage Patients Through Hearing Healthcare

As with so many types of healthcare, maintaining and improving hearing health is a journey. Keeping patients engaged in their care is one way providers can help them stay the course. Patient education can be an ideal way to maintain that engagement between appointments and interventions.  

These patient education strategies can help engage patients along their lifelong hearing health journey:

• Map the patient journey and create education touchpoints. Think through patient education needs, from a non-patient with no hearing care experience to a mature, long-time patient. Identify education opportunities and ways to connect with patients throughout their journey.
• Tailor education to differing health literacy levels. Segment patients by literacy levels. Studies have shown that people with hearing impairment have unique health literacy and communication barriers.²
• Create multichannel experiences. Engage with the widest pool of patients possible by engaging on multiple platforms — video tutorials, mobile apps, phone calls, text messages, social media, printed materials and more — so patients receive education tailored to their preferences and needs.
• Include financial education messaging. Don't leave financial education out of your patient conversations. Transparent pricing conversations are an opportunity to introduce patient financing options like the CareCredit credit card, which could help patients access care sooner while managing cost.

Patient Relationships Thrive With Hearing Health Education

Expertise is at the center of provider-patient relationships, which is why a sustained patient education program can help strengthen those ties. Ongoing communication builds patient-provider trust, which research has shown translates into improved treatment adherence.⁸ Hearing healthcare providers should also understand that educational communication is a two-way street. Asking for and listening to patients' listening experiences can help improve their long-term hearing aid outcomes.⁹ 

As if improved relationships and better patient outcomes weren't reward enough for hearing healthcare providers, research shows that satisfied patients are loyal patients who are not only more likely to follow provider recommendations, but also to engage in higher healthcare service use, boosting profitability for providers.¹⁰

Empowering Patients for Better Hearing Health

For hearing healthcare providers who pursue the best outcomes for their patients and their practices, investing in patient education is more than a nice-to-have component of their business. Hearing healthcare patient education can have a wide range of positive impacts.

Consider ways your practice can deepen its engagement with patient education. It doesn't have to happen all at once: You can start a small education initiative and build from there.

Learn More: Explore CareCredit's Hearing Health and Loss Prevention Study, download the infographic and watch the video.

A Patient Financing Solution for Your Hearing Care Practice

If you want to help your patients manage the cost of your practice's exams, procedures and products, consider offering the CareCredit credit card as a financing solution. CareCredit allows cardholders to pay for things like hearing care services and devices over time while helping to enhance the payments process for your practice.

When you accept CareCredit, patients can see if they prequalify with no impact to their credit score, and those who apply, if approved, can take advantage of special financing on qualifying purchases.* Additionally, you will be paid directly within two business days.

Learn more about the CareCredit credit card as a patient financing solution for your hearing care practice or start the provider enrollment process by filling out this form.

Author Bio

Natalie Burg is a writer, editor and editorial project manager with 20 years of experience. She uses her expertise from a range of industries, including economic development, business, sustainability and more, to create content that educates and engages readers.

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