Unconscious Bias in Hearing Care

Greater awareness and curiosity can strengthen patient relationships and support more individualized care.

Every patient enters an ENT or hearing care practice with a distinct history, set of priorities, and perspective on care. Yet even experienced, compassionate professionals can make rapid judgments before the full picture emerges.

That could be unconscious bias at work. Also called “implicit bias,” it refers to automatic attitudes, associations, or assumptions that can shape perception of and response to others without conscious awareness.

Bias is part of being human, but in healthcare, unchecked assumptions can undermine patient interactions. Read on for tips to recognize and interrupt unconscious bias for better conversations, stronger trust, and more individualized care.

What Research Says About Bias in Healthcare

One analysis looked broadly at unconscious bias among health professionals. A 2023 scoping review examined 87 records representing 81 studies and explored bias related to race and ethnicity, gender, age, weight, socioeconomic status, disability, and certain health conditions. The authors found that unconscious bias appears widespread among health professionals.

In hearing care, those attitudes may surface through seemingly reasonable but untested assumptions. A professional might assume that:

• A younger patient isn’t ready to consider hearing technology.
• An older patient won’t want to learn new technology.
• A patient with limited financial resources will reject certain options.
• A quiet or hesitant patient isn’t motivated to address a hearing concern.
• A family member’s priorities accurately represent the patient’s own goals.

Even when well-meaning, these assumptions can narrow the conversation before the patient has had an opportunity to speak for themselves. They may affect which questions are asked, which options are discussed, or how a patient’s readiness and priorities are interpreted.

Biases That Can Shape Patient Interactions

Recognizing common thought patterns can make them easier to interrupt. The Society for Human Resource Management’s article on recognizing and mitigating unconscious bias describes several forms that can influence judgments and decisions.

Three may be particularly relevant in a patient-care setting:

• Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek or emphasize information that supports an existing belief while discounting information that doesn’t.
• Anchoring bias occurs when someone relies too heavily on the first piece of information received instead of fully considering additional information.
• Affinity bias is the tendency to feel more comfortable with or favorable toward people who seem similar to you.

For example, a professional who expects an older patient to struggle with technology may focus on expressions of uncertainty while overlooking the patient’s curiosity or previous experience. A referral note or first impression might similarly become an anchor that shapes the rest of the appointment.

3 Ways to Interrupt Unconscious Bias

Awareness is a useful starting point, but meaningful change also requires deliberate habits. The following practices can support more thoughtful, patient-centered interactions.

1. Pause Before Reaching a Conclusion

Notice the first interpretation that comes to mind, particularly when deciding what a patient may want, understand, prioritize, or afford.

Ask yourself: “Am I making an assumption, or am I listening to what this patient is really telling me?”

A brief pause creates space between an automatic thought and the response that follows. It also provides an opportunity to consider what evidence supports the conclusion and what information may still be missing.

2. Lead With Curiosity

Ask open-ended questions that allow patients to describe their goals, concerns, and priorities in their own words. Questions might include:

• “Which listening situations are most important to you?”
• “What concerns do you have about the options we discussed?”
• “How comfortable are you with the technology you use now?”
• “What would a successful outcome look like in your daily life?”

Curiosity replaces speculation with information. It can also uncover needs or motivations that may not be apparent from a patient’s age, appearance, medical history, communication style, or financial circumstances.

3. Treat Every Interaction as a Fresh Opportunity

Medical records, referral information, family input, and previous appointments can provide valuable context, but they don’t tell the entire story. Approach each encounter as an opportunity to understand the person currently in front of you.

A patient’s circumstances, confidence, needs, and readiness may change over time. Listen for what is true today rather than allowing an earlier impression to determine the direction of the conversation.

Building Trust by Helping Patients Feel Heard

When patients feel truly seen and heard, they may be more likely to engage in care and build a lasting relationship with the practice. Pausing, questioning assumptions, and listening closely can help professionals respond more fully to each patient’s goals.

That trust is at the heart of Audigy’s Patients for Life® philosophy. Lasting relationships don’t begin with a stereotype or a predetermined answer. They begin when the individual in front of you knows they have truly been seen and heard.

Ready to strengthen your practice, improve the patient experience, and build lasting relationships?