Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42558131›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in medicine2026

Screening for age-related hearing loss in general practice: feasibility, diagnostic Value, and subsequent care pathways-a pilot study.

Martin J Koch, Rebecca Betz, Peter K Kurotschka, Anne Simmenroth

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Martin J KochDepartment of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Rebecca BetzDepartment of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Peter K KurotschkaDepartment of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Anne SimmenrothDepartment of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing loss (hypoacusis) is highly prevalent among older adults, affecting approximately 33% of individuals aged 65 years and above. It primarily impairs communication and is associated with mental health conditions, dementia, and social impairment. Although various screening methods exist, they are not routinely implemented in general practice. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and diagnostic value of screening for age-related hearing loss in general practices, as well as subsequent care pathways. Methods: In six general practices, 108 participants aged 65 years and older were screened using easyScreen, a method based on auditory brainstem responses, and were followed up after three and 6 months regarding further diagnostic evaluation and hearing aid uptake. Results: The screening procedure was brief, well tolerated, and largely compatible with practice workflows. easyScreen detected additional cases compared to questionnaire-based screening alone. The acceptance rates for further diagnostic evaluation and for the recommendation of a hearing aid were each approximately two-thirds. Discussion: While screening appears feasible and diagnostically valuable, the main challenges lie in post-screening care, particularly in diagnostic follow-up and treatment uptake.

Indexed as

care pathwaysdiagnostic valuefeasibilitygeneral practicehearing lossscreening

Identifiers

PMID42558131
PMCPMC13437265

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.