Effects of bilateral versus unilateral hearing aid fitting on abilities measured by the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ)

Abstract

The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (Gatehouse & Noble, 2004) was applied to three independent clinical groups: 144 people prior to being fitted with amplification; 118 people with six months experience with unilateral amplification; and 42 people with six months experience with bilateral amplification. For traditional speech hearing contexts (one-on-one, in groups, in quiet, in noise) there was benefit with one aid, and no further benefit with two. By contrast, hearing speech in demanding contexts (divided or rapidly switching attention) showed benefit with one aid and further benefit with two. In the spatial domain, directional hearing showed some benefit with one hearing aid, and particular further benefit in distance and movement discrimination from fitting with two. There was some benefit from unilateral fitting for elements of the qualities domains (clarity, naturalness, recognisability, segregation of sounds), with no consistent sign of further benefit from two. Bilateral fitting added benefit with respect to listening effort. Two hearing aids offer advantage in demanding and dynamic contexts; these contexts are argued as significant in the maintenance of social competence and emotional wellbeing. The present results go toward establishing the real-world advantages of bilateral hearing aid fitting and suggest that previous, inconclusive clinical findings reflect inquiry limited to more traditional areas of hearing function.

Implications of blast exposure for central auditory function: A review

“…Currently, no studies have examined the effects that distorted temporal patterns of neural firing associated with blast exposure might have on auditory cognitive processes such as learning, memory, and attention. Impairments to these cognitive faculties would interfere with the ability to communicate effectively in social settings, and as listeners with hearing loss will attest, without the ability to effectively group and select sound sources in an auditory scene, such situations can quickly become intimidating and overwhelming [57]. Similar difficulties can be expected to occur after blast exposure, even in the absence of peripheral hearing loss.…”

Proposed norms for the Glasgow hearing-aid benefit profile (Ghabp) questionnaire

“…The hearing-aid responses, however, suggest caution in interpreting group-average outcomes. A subsequent questionnaire, the Speech, Spatial and Quality of Life Questionnaire, has shown utility in parsing systematic differences (Noble & Gatehouse, 2006), and it or its abbreviated version (Noble et al, 2013) is recommended when the group differences are under scrutiny. Nevertheless, as a short-form method to discuss intervention with an individual patient, the GHABP still has merit.…”

Benefit from, and acclimatization to, frequency compression hearing aids in experienced adult hearing-aid users

“…(speech perception, spatial hearing and quality of sound). Each subscale is comprised of a series of listening situations which the respondent marks out of 10, where a score of 10 indicates complete ability and a score of zero indicates minimal ability (Noble and Gatehouse, 2006). A total of 50 listening situations are rated.…”