Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Adult Audiological Rehabilitation

Abstract

The finding of a short-term differential treatment benefit for AR in terms of interaction and reaction, and possibly for adjustment, was important, as better outcomes in these areas may be important in the decision to keep hearing aids. If this is the case, then the data support the inclusion of a counseling-oriented AR program. Differential treatment effects in interaction and reaction appeared to result from communication strategy use, indicating that the AR program is meeting many of its goals in this area. The lack of long-term differential effects appeared as the result of continued changes in adjustment, interaction, and reaction with continued hearing aid experience.

Short-Term Hearing Aid Benefit in a Large Group

“…One purpose of the present report is to quantify the obvious, consistent with the previous reports of Kochkin and Rogin (2000) and Chisolm et al (2004), that hearing aid amplification is associated with improvement in a variety of domains. Additionally, this report describes outcomes for groups for several nominal categories of hearing impairment and describes outcomes for individuals with prior experience with hearing aid amplification as well as new users of hearing aid amplification.…”

“…According to Cox (2005), one of the limitations of research in amplification is small participant groups leading to underpowered studies, therefore, the opportunity to share outcomes of hearing aid intervention using a formal subjective tool (here, SAC-Hx) in a very large group is compelling. In the present retrospective report, it was neither planned nor possible to separate the effects of the hearing aids from the counseling, psychosocial changes and other elements of the treatment, although recent research has examined non-hearing aid contributions to the audiological rehabilitation process in adults (Abrams, Chisolm, & McArdle, 2002;Chisolm, Abrams, & McArdle, 2004).…”

The ICF core sets for hearing loss project: International expert survey on functioning and disability of adults with hearing loss using the international classification of functioning, disability, and health (ICF)

“…Amplification is of significant importance for many adults with hearing loss as they compensate well for reduced hearing sensitivity. Hearing aid and other assistive devices are prerequisite for many subsequent interventions such as communication strategy programmes or hearing aid counseling programmes (Abrams et al, 2002;Chisolm et al, 2004;Saunders & Forsline, 2012). Even though assistive devices provide sophisticated solutions for amplifying residual hearing, background noise remains one of the most significant barriers to hearing aid use and satisfaction (Kochkin, 2000;Wong et al, 2003).…”

Perceptual training improves syllable identification in new and experienced hearing aid users

“…Existing rehabilitation training usually consists of group discussions that include other HA users and their families [39]. While this training helps patients adjust their behavior for successful HA use [40], it is not designed to enhance their low-level perceptual use of the speech cues that the HA has restored.…”