Technology, expectations, and adjustment to hearing loss: predictors of hearing aid outcome.

This study examined the influence of technology, demographic factors, and prefitting expectations, attitudes, and adjustment to hearing loss on hearing aid outcome. Clients obtaining new hearing aids completed questionnaires measuring personal adjustment to hearing loss, expectations of and attitudes toward hearing aids, and hearing aid benefit. Eighty-one percent of the 200 subjects completing the prefitting questionnaires returned questionnaires evaluating hearing aid outcome. Factors affecting hearing aid use, overall satisfaction, and benefit were investigated using regression analyses. Higher use time was associated with higher prefitting expectations and greater acceptance of hearing loss. Greater benefit in easy and difficult listening situations was predicted by higher prefitting expectations. Multiple-memory hearing aids produced higher satisfaction. Benefit was greater for multiple-memory, multiple-channel, and wide dynamic range compression aids. Findings were consistent with previous studies showing positive outcomes for newer technologies but also showed that two subjective factors, prefitting hearing aid expectations and acceptance of hearing loss, significantly influenced hearing aid outcome.

Investigation of the profile of hearing aid performance in experienced hearing aid users.

OBJECTIVE: A shortened version of the 66-item Profile of Hearing Aid Performance (PHAP), consisting of the 24 items from the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit, was evaluated as an alternative to the full PHAP questionnaire as a measure of hearing aid performance. Objectives were to: 1) statistically determine factors underlying Abbreviated PHAP (APHAP) scores; 2) recommend modifications to the questionnaire, if indicated by the factor analysis; 3) compare scores for the PHAP and APHAP; and 4) determine the suitability of the abbreviated questionnaire for New Zealand hearing aid users. The relationship between hearing aid performance and subjective variables and other measures of hearing aid success also was investigated. DESIGN: PHAP data, hearing aid satisfaction ratings, and reported daily hearing aid use were obtained from experienced adult hearing aid users. Factor analysis was carried out for the 24 APHAP items, and two items were excluded because of low factor loadings. After this modification, APHAP and PHAP scores were compared. Pearson's correlation values were determined for PHAP and APHAP data and degree of hearing loss, hearing aid satisfaction, and hours of hearing aid use. RESULTS: APHAP hearing aid performance was better described as three factors rather than four subscales. PHAP and APHAP results were consistent with previous studies and showed that hearing aid performance was best for easy listening situations and poorest for noisy and/or reverberant conditions. Similar trends were seen for PHAP and APHAP data. APHAP scores were correlated with hours of hearing aid use and overall hearing aid satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: A shortened, 22-item APHAP is a preferred alternative to the full PHAP, producing data representing several dimensions of hearing aid performance. Modified APHAP scores can be used together with overall satisfaction and estimates of daily hearing aid use to measure success with hearing aids.

Evaluation of hearing aid benefit using the Shortened Hearing Aid Performance Inventory.

To date, little quantitative data regarding hearing aid benefit has been produced in New Zealand. The 38-item Shortened Hearing Aid Performance Inventory (SHAPI) was administered by mail to hearing aid clients aged over 50 years who had been fitted with hearing aids in the previous 2 years. Based on subjects' responses, three items with low applicability were dropped from the analysis. The overall mean rating was higher than that of comparable studies, indicating a lower hearing aid benefit level. Mean rating was positively correlated with subject age but was not correlated with weekly hours of use. Factor analysis revealed three significant factors that were consistent with factors identified in previous studies: listening under favorable conditions, listening to speech in background noise, and listening with reduced cues. Consistent with previous studies, internal consistency was very high.

Hearing aid use and benefit and uptake of aural rehabilitation services by New Zealand hearing aid wearers.

AIM: To provide the first extensive survey in New Zealand of hearing aid use and benefit and the accessibility of Hearing Association services. METHOD: A mail-out questionnaire was used to survey 197 Auckland adult hearing aid wearers regarding patterns of hearing aid use and benefit and the accessibility of Hearing Association aural rehabilitation services. RESULTS: Hearing aid benefit was moderate and was not related to age or hearing aid use variables. Knowledge and usage of local rehabilitation services was limited. Perceived functions of the Hearing Association included adult audiometry and counselling. Respondents wanted assistance with hearing aid management and assistive listening devices. Physical access, financial and time constraints were seen as barriers to using rehabilitative services. DISCUSSION: It appears that there is not a simple relationship between perceived benefit or satisfaction and the amount of time people wear their hearing aids. The low level of awareness and participation in Hearing Association services is consistent with the underutilisation of such services found previously.