Text Message Reminders for Hearing Healthcare

Many individuals with hearing loss do not receive adequate hearing healthcare. Given their close and long-term relationships with patients, primary care providers (PCPs) could play a vital role in improving access to hearing healthcare. Unfortunately, hearing loss is often underdiagnosed in primary care settings, because hearing screening is not a routine part of primary care visits, and the responsibility often falls on the patient or family to recognize and address the issue. The investigators propose to pilot test the use of text message reminders to encourage elderly patients to discuss hearing assessment with there PCPs. The study objectives are to: 1) design an automated text-messaging reminder system; 2) assess the feasibility of deploying the intervention in a clinical trial setting; and 3) evaluate whether the intervention increases willingness to seek hearing healthcare.

Participants will receive automated reminder text instructing them to discuss hearing issues with their PCPs, and to request a referral to audiology or otolaryngology if they have hearing loss.

Participants in the intervention group will receive monthly automated reminder text instructing them to discuss hearing issues with their PCPs, and to request a referral to audiology or otolaryngology if they have hearing loss.

Participant-reported rating of the likelihood of discussing hearing assessment with their PCP in the next 6 months. Likelihood will be assessed on an 11-point visual analogue scale (VAS). Score range: 0 to 10 (0 = not likely, 10 = very likely). Participants who have already discussed hearing assessment with their PCP will be assigned a score of 10.

Participant-reported rating of the likelihood of obtaining an audiogram in the next 6 months. Likelihood will be assessed on an 11-point visual analogue scale (VAS). Score range: 0 to 10 (0 = not likely, 10 = very likely). Participants who have already undergone audiometric testing will be assigned a score of 10.

Participant-reported rating of the likelihood of obtaining hearing aids if an audiogram showed significant hearing loss. Likelihood will be assessed on an 11-point visual analogue scale (VAS). Score range: 0 to 10 (0 = not likely, 10 = very likely). Participants who have already obtained hearing aids will be assigned a score of 10.

Inclusion Criteria: English-speaking adult patients aged 65 and older Have not audiometric testing within the past 5 years Has had at least one prior visit encounter with a Stanford primary care provider the past 1 year Has a cell phone with a valid phone number Exclusion Criteria: History of childhood hearing loss Hearing aid users Limited English proficiency