Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences faculty, Jessica West, PhD, MPH, was recently awarded $284,350 for NIH Diversity Supplement funded by the National Institutes on Aging. Dr. West’s research will examine the impact of hearing loss on risks of hospitalization among older adults with heart failure in collaboration with Dr. Matthew Dupre (R01AG075210).
The multi-year grant will leverage nationally-representative longitudinal data and electronic health records to provide new evidence of how hearing loss contributes to potentially preventable hospitalizations in older adults who are managing a complex chronic disease. By addressing communication challenges in the healthcare setting, Dr. West’s research will inform the policies, programs, and practices of improving the health and well-being of older adults with hearing loss.