Abstract
Adults living in rural communities of Alabama have limited or no access to hearing
healthcare for a variety of reasons. Hearing loss can result in decreased social contact,
potentially leading to loneliness, and it has been associated with depression and
cognitive decline. To improve access to hearing healthcare, the FDA released its Final
Rule in 2022 stating that adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss can
purchase over-the-counter hearing aids (OTC HAs) on their own without clearance from
a physician or through the care of an audiologist. Current research suggests, however,
that adults benefit from professional support when purchasing and setting their OTC
HAs. Understanding how much support is needed and how to best provide the support
will be necessary for successful OTC HA use. Considering that these devices can now
be purchased at pharmacies, one model in rural areas could involve the pharmacy technician
who could assist and support those with hearing loss in community pharmacies. This
article outlines a pharmacy technician educational training program that will incorporate
didactic, interactional, and experiential learning components to promote the use of
OTC HAs. The outcomes from this project will provide the foundation for the development
and implementation of one model for improving access to hearing healthcare in rural
communities.
Keywords
community pharmacy service - continuing pharmacy education - hearing loss - rural
health services
