Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions among adults and older adults, with a substantial impact on quality of life, communication, mental health, and social participation. However, it often remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, partly due to the stigma surrounding traditional hearing devices. From this scenario emerges the CME conference “Integrated Hearing Care: The Role of the General Practitioner in Managing Hearing Loss“, scheduled for November 7, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at FIMMG Rome.
The Primary Point of Reference
At the center of the discussion is the primary care physician, the first healthcare professional to detect hearing distress: recognizes early symptoms, assesses the impact on daily life, guides the patient toward appropriate diagnostic pathways, and plays a key role in counseling and selecting the most suitable solutions. This role is underscored by scientific evidence indicating a significant correlation between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, making early diagnosis and auditory rehabilitation a public health priority.
«Integrating attention to hearing health into the practice of the general practitioner means fostering early detection of deficits, promptly guiding the patient toward the most appropriate pathway, and ensuring ongoing care. An innovative and coordinated model capable of improving prevention, access to care, and quality of life», says Massimo Sabatini, a general practitioner and conference speaker.
The Conference
The proceedings will begin with the institutional greetings by Pierluigi Bartoletti, provincial secretary of FIMMG Rome. They will be followed by Italo Cantore, a physician at the Complex Unit of Otorhinolaryngology of San Filippo Neri Hospital, ASL Rome 1, on the main ENT pathologies and solutions for the general practitioner; Massimiliano Pellegrini, director of Medical Area Development, on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the hearing-impaired patient; Massimiliano D’Agruma, audioprosthetist, on integrated acoustic technologies in wearable devices.
Giuseppe Fucito, member of the Provincial FIMMG Rome Board and a general practitioner, will address the psychological aspects and the stigma that lead patients to refuse traditional devices, from social perception to therapeutic adherence, up to the GP’s counseling role. Massimo Sabatini, a general practitioner, will outline the clinical foundations of hearing loss, while Alessandro Sabatini will delve into the GP’s role in the diagnostic-therapeutic pathway for the hearing-impaired patient. The morning will conclude with an interdisciplinary roundtable and final discussion.
The objective of the training program, recognized with 3 CME credits, is to equip general practitioners with up-to-date tools, scientific evidence, clinical cases, and practical skills, reinforcing collaboration among family doctors, ENT specialists, audiologists, psychologists, and neurologists: an integrated approach that accompanies the hearing-impaired patient from diagnosis to rehabilitation, up to the prevention of cognitive complications.
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