Clinical Reasons for Returning Hearing Aids

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesIncreases in older aged populations and exposure to complicated noise environments have increased the number of hearing-impaired patients, creating greater demands for hearing aids. We have assessed the reasons that individuals rejected wearing and returned properly prescribed hearing aids, as well as differences in individual factors between younger and elderly adults.Subjects and MethodsOf 1138 patients for whom hearing aids were prescribed at Kyung Hee University Medical Center Hearing Aid Clinic, 81 (6.14%) returned their hearing aids, including 36 patients aged <65 years and 45 aged ≥65 years. Patient-related, hearing-related, and hearing aid-related factors were assessed by retrospective chart analysis and phone survey and compared in the two groups.ResultsThe primary symptoms reported by the 81 patients who returned their hearing aids were hearing disturbance, ringing, and fullness in the ear, in that order and in both groups. The rate of hearing aid return was similar in elderly females and males (p=0.288). The spondee recognition threshold was significantly higher in younger than in elderly adults (63.3±14.0 dB vs. 55.6±14.74 dB, p=0.019), but the hearing aid return rate was highest in patients with moderate hearing loss in both groups. In evaluating the reasons for return of hearing aids, we found that ineffectiveness of the device was the most frequent reason, accounting for 32.0% of returns, the highest percentage in both groups, with the most frequent patient problem caused by management difficulty in elderly and financial difficulty in younger adults.ConclusionsThe reasons for hearing aid return were different in two groups. Financial considerations were cited more by younger adults, while difficulties in managing hearing aids were cited more frequently by elderly adults. Patients in both groups, however, reported that the most frequent reasons for return were inadequate hearing improvement and inconvenience wearing the hearing aid due to noise amplification.

Factors Impacting the Use or Rejection of Hearing Aids—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…These findings indicate a potential disparity in access to and utilization of hearing aids among different racial and ethnic groups. Regarding sex differences, it has been observed that a small percentage of patients, approximately 6%, return their hearing aids within the first three months of use, and this trend is more pronounced among women [ 27 ]. Regarding sex differences, the observation that a higher percentage of women return their hearing aids within the first three months of use suggests a potential disparity in their experience and satisfaction with the devices compared to men.…”

Evaluating the causative factors that lead to rejection of hearing aids among young adults having moderate to severe degree sensorineural hearing loss

“…18 Another study on clinical reasons to return a HA depicted that inconvenient wearing of HA due to noise is the most frequent reason, while the cost is a major problem among younger adults. 19 Hartley and coauthors evaluated the reasons for not wearing HA among the Australian population. 20 These reasons were discomfort, does not help, cost, not working, and too noisy.…”

Effects of a Dual Sensory Loss Protocol on Hearing Aid Outcomes

“…Third, a subgroup effect was found for participants with insufficient or good speech intelligibility in noise. This finding is interesting as people with moderate hearing loss (equivalent to the category insufficient hearing in the present study) seem to return their HAs more often than persons with severe hearing loss (Hong et al 2014). By improving HA outcomes with the DSL protocol, this high return rate could possibly be decreased.…”