B0300 Hearing Aid

Item Rationale

Health-related Quality of Life

• Problems with hearing can contribute to social isolation and mood and behavior disorders.

• Many residents with impaired hearing could benefit from hearing aids or other hearing appliances.

• Many residents who own hearing aids do not have the hearing aids with them or have nonfunctioning hearing aids upon arrival.

Planning for Care

• Knowing if a hearing aid was used when determining hearing ability allows better identification of evaluation and management needs.

• For residents with hearing aids, use and maintenance should be included in care planning.

• Residents who do not have adequate hearing without a hearing aid should be asked about history of hearing aid use.

• Residents who do not have adequate hearing despite wearing a hearing aid might benefit from a re-evaluation of the device or assessment for new causes of hearing impairment.

Steps for Assessment

1. Prior to beginning the hearing assessment, ask the resident if they own a hearing aid or other hearing appliance and, if so, whether it is at the nursing home.

2. If the resident cannot respond, write the question down and allow the resident to read it.

3. If the resident is still unable, check with family and care staff about hearing aid or other hearing appliances.

4. Check the medical record for evidence that the resident had a hearing appliance in place when hearing ability was recorded.

5. Ask staff and significant others whether the resident was using a hearing appliance when they observed hearing ability (above).

Coding Instructions

• Code 0, no: if the resident did not use a hearing aid (or other hearing appliance) for the 7-day hearing assessment coded in B0200, Hearing.

• Code 1, yes: if the resident did use a hearing aid (or other hearing appliance) for the hearing assessment coded in B0200, Hearing.

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