Hearing Loss in the Third Era of Public Health – From Epidemiology to Public Policy (0.1 CEUs)

Presented by Frank Lin, MD, PhD

Professor of Otolaryngology, Medicine, Mental Health & Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University;  Director, Cochlear Center for Hearing & Public Health

Learning Objectives

1. Describe how hearing loss is relevant to public health
2. Describe research investigating the impact of hearing loss on older adults
3. Describe national initiatives focused on hearing loss and aging

Dr. Lin will discuss research over the past several years that has demonstrated the broad implications of hearing loss for public health and the functioning of older adults, particularly with respect to cognitive functioning, brain aging, and dementia. He will then discuss how this epidemiologic research has directly led to current national initiatives in the U.S. focused on hearing loss and public health. These initiatives include the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) randomized controlled trial and recent passage of the bipartisan Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act in 2017. This federal law overturns over 40 years of regulatory precedent around hearing aids in the U.S. in order to directly improve the accessibility and affordability of hearing care for older adults.

Frank R. Lin, M.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health and a Professor of Otolaryngology, Medicine, Mental Health, and Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Lin completed his medical education, residency in Otolaryngology, and Ph.D. in Clinical Investigation, all at Johns Hopkins. He completed further otologic fellowship training in Lucerne, Switzerland. Dr. Lin's clinical practice is dedicated to otology and the medical and surgical management of hearing loss. His public health research focuses on understanding how hearing loss affects the health and functioning of older adults and the strategies and policies needed to mitigate these effects. From 2014-2016, Lin led initiatives with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (workshop, consensus study), the White House President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and Congress that resulted in passage of the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 which overturned 40 years of established regulatory precedent in the U.S. This federal law reflects the direct result of his prior research and broader policy work around hearing loss and public health. He currently serves as a member of the Board on Health Sciences Policy at the National Academies.  As the director of the Cochlear Center, he oversees over $30 million in committed NIH and philanthropic funding dedicated to advancing the mission areas of the Center.