Bolstering Access to Hearing Care for Older Hispanic Adults

Abstract

Oyendo Bien ("Hearing Well") is a program designed to increase access to audiology services for Hispanic/Latinx older adults with hearing loss and their families. The program is based in rural Southern Arizona in a predominantly Hispanic/Latinx community. Audiologists from the University of Arizona partnered with community health workers (promotores de salud in Hispanic/ Latinx communities) to develop the new hearing health education and peer-support program. The curriculum emphasizes communication strategies training, teaches participants about hearing assistive devices, and promotes hearing conservation. A research study funded the development of Oyendo Bien with grants from the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, University of Arizona Foundation, and SERTOMA. Collaboration with community health workers In a pilot study of the program, community health workers invited people from the community to participate in hearing screening events, which included individual counseling by an audiologist or supervised audiology graduate student. Eligible candidates were then invited to participate in the weekly, five-session Oyendo Bien program facilitated by community health workers. Sessions are delivered in a group format and designed to encourage family participation. The collaborating community health workers were employees of a federally qualified health center (FQHC), a type of health center that receives funds from the Health Resources & Services Administration. Community health workers from the FQHC helped reach underserved community members through culturally appropriate outreach, health education and referral services. By linking people with services of the FQHC and empowering them to manage their health conditions, community health workers helped to increase access to care and improve outcomes (see sources).