Adherence and continuity to the use of hearing aid: scope review

Abstract

Purpose To identify the reasons that lead the individual to follow or not the recommendation to use the hearing aid and its use over the years. Research strategy Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) recommendations were followed. The databases searched were: Pubmed, Pubmed Central, Scopus, Embase, Web of science and Cochrane, using the following descriptors: “Hearing Aids”, “Patient Compliance” and the Boolean indicator AND. Selection criteria primary original articles with prospective, retrospective, observational or experimental designs; that raise, report, verify or analyze the reasons for adherence or not to the use of hearing aids, regardless of being an experienced user or not; carried out with the young, adult and elderly population; with individuals with any degree, type and configuration of hearing loss; with unilateral or bilateral adaptations and in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Results 27 studies were included in the analysis. There were two distinct situations in the auditory rehabilitation process: acceptance of the indication of the use of HA and the continuity of the effective use. Thus, the aspects that positively, negatively or do not interfere in these two phases were compiled and presented. Conclusion the most relevant factors in the non-adherence to HA were: perception of low cost-benefit, lack of understanding of the real need and difficulty in accepting its use; while the ones that most impacted the continuity of use were: HA sound quality, handling difficulties and perception of little benefit.