Long‐term Impact of Hearing Aid Provision or Cochlear Implantation on Hearing Handicap

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis Previous research has shown hearing handicap to be reduced following hearing aid use or cochlear implantation in short‐to‐medium follow‐up periods, yet the impact of interventions for hearing loss on hearing handicap in the long term remains understudied. This article reports hearing handicap at 6 months, 12 months, and 5 years after either hearing aid provision or cochlear implantation. Study Design Observational study. Methods A study of 115 participants from the Studying Multiple Outcomes after Aural Rehabilitative Treatment (SMART) study cohort assessed self‐reported hearing handicap using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening version (HHIE‐S) at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 5 years. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to estimate the population mean HHIE‐S score over time, accounting for the correlated nature of repeated measures data, and multiple imputation with chained equations was performed to impute missing data. Results Compared to baseline, mean HHIE‐S scores after hearing aid provision were significantly reduced at 6 months (mean = −7.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −10.40, −5.53), 12 months (mean = −6.58, 95% CI: −9.26, −3.90), and 5 years (mean = −4.58, 95% CI: −7.87, −1.30). After cochlear implantation, mean hearing handicap scores were also significantly lower compared to baseline at 6 months (mean = −8.18, 95% CI: −11.07, −5.30), 12 months (mean = −10.04, 95% CI: −12.92, −7.16), and 5 years (mean = −8.97, 95% CI: −12.92, −7.16). Conclusions This study found short‐term benefits from hearing aids and cochlear implantation on hearing handicap were maintained over 5 years. Laryngoscope, 131:1122–1126, 2021

Effect of a Community Health Worker–Delivered Personal Sound Amplification Device on Self-Perceived Communication Function in Older Adults With Hearing Loss

“…A 2017 Cochrane review of hearing aids included a study that used the full-length HHIE (score range, 0-100) and found a mean difference of –10.54 in a community-based sample with hearing aid use . In addition, the improvement in self-perceived communication function was maintained through 12 months postintervention and was comparable with findings of hearing aid users 12 months after fitting …”

“…To the authors’ knowledge, this randomized clinical trial was the first of a CHW-delivered hearing care intervention designed for older adults that included provision of amplification . The improvements in self-perceived communication function were comparable in magnitude with improvements documented for older adults who received conventional clinic-based hearing care with provision of hearing aids by audiologists . Hearing aid users in one study had a comparable mean baseline score of 18.7 with an improvement in self-perceived communication function of –7.96 on the HHIE-S 6 months following receipt of hearing aids fit by audiologists in a US-based academic audiology practice .…”

5-Year Observation Period of Quality of Life After Cochlear Implantation

“…As stated above, earlier studies with a prolonged observation period suggested that on the long run HRQoL of CI patients might decrease again (7,8,15). In our sample, however, a significant decrease of hearing-specific HRQoL could not be observed.…”

“…Finally, Kim et al (8) analyzed the 5-year effect of aural rehabilitation (through a hearing aid or a CI) on the hearing handicap of the patients. For this purpose, the authors administered to Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screening (HHIE-S) to 51 CI patients.…”

Evaluation of Children with Hearing Loss in a Special Education Centre by TEDIL-3 Test in Mardin

“…In the literature, CI users get more benefits than HA users. 10 BAHA has also been a good choice for aural atresia patients. And the patient with BAHA had aural atresia.…”