Subjective outcome of hearing aids – a longitudinal study: Brief communication

Abstract

We have evaluated the subjective outcome of the use of HAs and documented changes in the benefit of the instruments in terms of satisfaction, use, manipulation and need for follow-up in a cross-sectional longitudinal perspective. Responses were sought to a postal questionnaire three to four months after HA fitting in 1995, 2000 and 2005 and these were analysed. In 1995 only analogue HAs were fitted; in 2000, 23% and in 2005 up to 89%, were fitted with DSP-HAs. The response rate was 69% in 1995 and 2000, but only 50% in 2005. The numbers of responses included in the analysis are: 3178 in 1995, 3017 in 2000 and 3666 in 2005.In 1995: 70.4% (95% CI 68.8Á72.0) were very satisfied/satisfied, 3.0% (95% CI 2.4Á3.6) never used the HAs, 74.9% (95% CI 73.4Á76.4) could manipulate the HA and 31.3% (95% CI 29.7Á32.9) needed followup. In 2000: 72.0% (95% CI 70.4Á73.6) were very satisfied/satisfied, 2.9% (95% CI 2.3Á3.5) never used the HAs, 82.7% (95% CI 81.3Á84.1) could manipulate the instrument and 42.4% (95% CI 40.6Á44.1) needed follow-up. In 2005: 66.4% (95% CI 64.9Á68.0) were very satisfied/satisfied, 3.7% (95% CI 3.1Á4.3) never used the Has, 78.4% (95% CI 77.4Á79.8) could manipulate the instrument and 68.6% (95% CI 67.4Á 69.8) needed follow-up.The study concluded that DSP-HAs, which have by and large replaced analogue HAs, do not in general represent more benefit to the consumers than the earlier analogue HAs. The outcome of DSP-HAs use should be analysed according to the degree of hearing loss, which has not been possible in this context. The many potential features in DSP-HAs may in the future prove that the additional costs of these instruments are warranted. The demand for better training of fitting staff and more expensive equipment should also be taken into account in this context.