Background:
Population ageing is a global phenomenon. Hearing loss prevalence, indeed, increases with age. Hearing loss in elderly deteriorates hearing abilities and consequently cognition, sociality, sensitivity and the quality of life. Different studies reported that hearing aids have a positive effect on the cognitive outcome but most of them do not compare the performances before and after the hearing aids (HA) fitting. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the adherence to HA use in a group of elderly people one year after their first fitting. In particular, we want to analyze which factors influence the adherence. Subsequently, we evaluated the evolution of the different parameters analyzed after one year of HA use.
Methods:
86 elderly patients affected by moderate or moderate to severe hearing loss were consecutively recruited. They were evaluated during two assessments: one before (Pre) and one after one year of first HA experience (Post). Audiometric measures, questionnaires and a cognitive test were performed at each assessment. More details about study design and inclusion/exclusion criteria are reported in our previously published study protocol.
Results:
69.8% of the participants continued to use HA one year after the first fitting. At the comparisons USERS were younger than NON-USERS. Furthermore users have a statistically better unaided auditory threshold and basic cognitive status. No differences were found in speech audiometry, HHIE and Quality of life score.
39 patients completed Pre and Post evaluations. Significant improvements in speech audiometry and auditory threshold, HHIE, AQoL and IOI-HA score were observed. No difference was found in MOCA score.
Conclusions:
An high percentage of adherence to HA use has been observed in elderly with moderate or moderate to severe HL. The adherence to HA use is correlated with lower age, lower hearing loss degree, good basal cognitive capacities and better quality of life perception at first fitting. Use of hearing aids over time, leads to an improvement of the auditory performances, a reduction of the effect of the hearing impairment in everyday situations and absence of deterioration of the cognitive functions. Bilateral device users experience better performances and satisfaction than monolateral.
Trial registration: This research was retrospectively registered under no. NCT04333043 at ClinicalTrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/) on the 26 March 2020. This research has been registered with the Ethics Committee of the Area Vasta Emilia Nord under number 104, date of approval 17/07/2017.