A Prospective Multi-Centre Study of the Benefits of Bilateral Hearing Aids

Abstract

In a number of respects bilaterally fitted hearing aids offered a benefit relative to unilaterally fitted hearing aids (the so-called bilateral benefit), both subjectively (questionnaire) and objectively (speech perception in noise and localization). However, we found large interindividual differences and not all differences were clinically relevant. The results of the diagnostic tests showed that it was not possible to predict the bilateral benefit from a priori information based on headphone tests. At the end of the trial period 93% of the participants preferred a bilateral fitting.

Hearing-aid use and benefit: A long-term follow-up in patients undergoing surgery for otosclerosis

“…Uncorrected hearing loss has consequences not only for speech perception but also for the detection and localization of sounds, with implications for social life, cognitive functions, physical functions, and quality of life (Arlinger, 2003). Furthermore, there is evidence that bilateral hearing-aid fi tting has benefi ts, such as improved intelligibility in noise and sound localization, for most patients (Boymans et al, 2008;Kobler & Rosenhall, 2002;Bertoli et al, 2010;Mencher & Davis, 2006). Unilateral hearing-aid amplifi cation may also cause an auditory deprivation effect with decreased speech recognition in the unaided ear (Arlinger et al, 1996) .…”

Unilateral Versus Bilateral Hearing Aid Fittings

“…Therefore a prospective study was conducted. In that study (Boymans et al 2006) the same Audiological centers participated. 214 Subjects who were willing to start a trial period with bilateral hearing aids were included, 113 men and 101 women with an average age of 66 years (range: 18-88).…”

Interferência binaural no processo de seleção e adaptação de próteses auditivas: revisão sistemática

“…Through subjective tests and questionnaires, it was researched the acceptation of one or two hearing aids in 214 patients, evaluated in the experience period; 93% of the individuals preferred binaural aids, while 7% preferred the unilateral aids. The subjects who referred improvements with the use of two hearing aids, expressed several benefits, except in relation to strong sounds 6,29 . In another study, 94 subjects with symmetric sensorial hearing loss, with mild and moderate degrees were evaluated.…”