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Open Access
CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2017; 21(03): 224-231
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1592117
Original Research
Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A Comparative Study on Hearing Aid Benefits of Digital Hearing Aid Use (BTE) from Six Months to Two Years

Authors

  • Lukeshwari Verma

    1   Department of Audiology, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Hearing Handicapped, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

  • Himanshu Kumar Sanju

    2   Department of Audiology, AIISH, Manasagangothri, Mysore, Karnataka, India

  • Bibina Scaria

    1   Department of Audiology, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Hearing Handicapped, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

  • Mayank Awasthi

    1   Department of Audiology, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Hearing Handicapped, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

  • Aparna Ravichandran

    1   Department of Audiology, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Hearing Handicapped, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

  • Ashritha Kaki

    1   Department of Audiology, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Hearing Handicapped, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

  • Savalam Gnana Rathna Prakash

    1   Department of Audiology, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Hearing Handicapped, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Further Information

Publication History

22 February 2016

22 July 2016

Publication Date:
02 September 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction For many reasons, it is important for audiologists and consumers to document improvement and benefit from amplification device at various stages of uses of amplification device. Professional are also interested to see the impact of amplification device on the consumer's auditory performance at different stages i.e. immediately after fitting and over several months of use.

Objective The objective of the study was to measure the hearing aid benefit following 6 months – 1-year usage, 1 year – 1.5 yeaŕs usage, and 1.5 yeaŕs – 2 years' usage.

Methods A total of 45 subjects participated in the study and were divided equally in three groups: hearing aid users from 6 months to 1 year, 1 year to 1.5 year, and 1.5 year to two years. All subjects responded to the Hearing Aid Benefit Questionnaire (63 questions), which assesses six domains of listening skills.

Result Results showed the mean scores obtained were higher for all domains in the aided condition, as compared with unaided condition for all groups. Results also showed a significant improvement in the overall score between first-time users with hearing aid experience of six months to one year and hearing aid users using hearing aids for a period between 1.5 and 2 years.

Conclusion It is possible to conclude that measuring the hearing aid benefit with the self-assessment questionnaires will assist the clinicians in making judgments about the areas in which a patient is experiencing more difficulty in everyday listening environment and in revising the possible technologies.

Keywords

hearing aid - acclimatization - communication - questionnaires - elderly - rehabilitation of hearing impairment