Consumer Ratings of the Most Desirable Hearing Aid Attributes

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (08) ◽  
pp. 537-546
Author(s):  
Vinaya Manchaiah ◽  
Erin M. Picou ◽  
Abram Bailey ◽  
Hansapani Rodrigo
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Partitioning Around Medoids ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Physical Comfort ◽  
Technology Level

Abstract Background Modern hearing aids have various features and functionalities, such as digital wireless streaming, bilateral connectivity, rechargeability, and specialized programs, which allow for a multitude of hearing aid attributes (e.g., comfort, reliability, and clarity). Consumers likely vary greatly in their preferences for these hearing aid attributes. Their preferences might be related to various demographic and hearing loss characteristics. Purpose The purposes of this study were to describe which hearing aid attributes consumers find desirable when choosing their hearing aids and to explore factors that might predict preferences. Research Design Cross-sectional. Study Sample 14,993. Intervention Not applicable. Data Collection and Analysis In this retrospective study, hearing aid attribute preferences were evaluated from consumers who answered questions in the Help Me Choose tool on the HearingTracker.com Web site. Chi-squared tests and correlation analyses were used to identify potential relationships between attribute preference and respondent characteristics. Cluster analysis with Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM) was used to identify patterns of attribute preferences. Results Of the 21 hearing aid attributes queried, the four most favorably rated were improved ability to hear friends and family in quiet and in noisy settings, physical comfort, and reliability, with 75 to 88% of respondents rating these attributes as very or extremely important. Type of hearing loss, technology level preference, and mobile phone brand were significantly associated with preferences for all 21 hearing aid attributes. PAM cluster analysis unveiled two unique user groups based on their preference to hearing aid attributes. One-third of the respondents preferred high-end technology and favored all types of advanced attributes. The other two-thirds of users predominantly preferred either advanced or best match and were more selective about which attributes were most important to them. Conclusion Patterns in preferences to hearing aid attributes help identify unique subgroups of consumers. Patient preferences for specific hearing aid attributes, in addition to audiologic characteristics, could help audiologists in recommending hearing aids for their patients.

Knowledge and Expectations of Hearing Aid Applications: A Cross-sectional Survey of Smartphone Users and Hearing Professionals (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae Sang Han ◽  
Yong-Ho Park ◽  
Jae-Jun Song ◽  
Il Joon Moon ◽  
Woojoo Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cost Category ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
The Cost

BACKGROUND Despite the increasing prevalence of hearing loss, the cost and psychological barriers to use of hearing aids may prevent individuals with hearing loss from using these aids. Hearing loss patients can benefit from smartphone-based hearing aid applications (SHAAs), which are smartphone applications that use a mobile device as sound amplifier. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to determine how ear, nose and throat (ENT) outpatients perceived SHAAs, analyze factors that affected this, and estimate costs of annual subscription to an application through a self-administered questionnaire survey of smartphone users and hearing specialists. METHODS The study employed cross-sectional, multi-center survey of both ENT outpatients and hearing specialists. The questionnaire was designed to collect personal information about the respondents as well as responses to 18 questions concerning SHAAs in 5 domains: knowledge, needs, cost, expectations, and information. Questions about the expected cost of SHAAs were included in the questionnaire distributed to hearing experts. RESULTS Among 219 smartphone users and 42 hearing specialists, only eight respondents (3.7%) recognized SHAAs, while 47 of 261 respondents (21.5%) reported considering using an assistive device to improve their hearing capacities. Average perception score was 2.81 (95% CI 2.65-2.97), lower than the grade point average of 3. Among factors that shaped perceptions of SHAAs, the needs category received the lowest scores (2.02, 95% CI 1.83-2.20) whereas the cost category received the highest scores (3.29, 95% CI 3.14-3.44). Age was correlated with the information domain (P = .000) and an increased level of hearing impairment resulted in significantly higher points in the needs category (P = .000). Patients expected the cost of an annual application subscription to an SHAA to be about 86 USD, and predicted cost was associated with economic status (P = .200) and was noticeably higher than the prices expected by hearing specialists (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Outpatients expected SHAAs to cost more than hearing specialists. However, SHAA perception was relatively low. In this regard, enhanced awareness of SHAAs is required to popularize SHAAs. CLINICALTRIAL None

scholarly journals Socioeconomic differences in hearing among middle-aged and older adults: cross-sectional analyses using the Health Survey for England

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e019615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun Scholes ◽  
Jane Biddulph ◽  
Adrian Davis ◽  
Jennifer S. Mindell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hearing Aid Use ◽  
Health Survey For England

BackgroundHearing loss impacts on cognitive, social and physical functioning. Both hearing loss and hearing aid use vary across population subgroups. We examined whether hearing loss, and reported current hearing aid use among persons with hearing loss, were associated with different markers of socioeconomic status (SES) in a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults.MethodsHearing was measured using an audiometric screening device in the Health Survey for England 2014 (3292 participants aged 45 years and over). Hearing loss was defined as >35 dB HL at 3.0 kHz in the better-hearing ear. Using sex-specific logistic regression modelling, we evaluated the associations between SES and hearing after adjustment for potential confounders.Results26% of men and 20% of women aged 45 years and over had hearing loss. Hearing loss was higher among men in the lowest SES groups. For example, the multivariable-adjusted odds of hearing loss were almost two times as high for those in the lowest versus the highest income tertile (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.74). Among those with hearing loss, 30% of men and 27% of women were currently using a hearing aid. Compared with men in the highest income tertile, the multivariable-adjusted odds of using a hearing aid nowadays were lower for men in the middle (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.99) and the lowest (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.97) income tertiles. Associations between SES and hearing were weaker or null among women.ConclusionsWhile the burden of hearing loss fell highest among men in the lowest SES groups, current hearing aid use was demonstrably lower. Initiatives to detect hearing loss early and increase the uptake and the use of hearing aids may provide substantial public health benefits and reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health.

Audiologist Practices: Parent Hearing Aid Education and Support

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (04) ◽  
pp. 324-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Meibos ◽  
Karen Muñoz ◽  
Karl White ◽  
Elizabeth Preston ◽  
Cache Pitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
The United States ◽  
Counseling Skills ◽  
Data Logging ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hearing Aid Use

Background: Early identification of hearing loss has led to routine fitting of hearing aids in infants and young children. Amplification provides opportunities to optimize child development, although it also introduces challenges for parents to navigate. Audiologists have a central role in providing parents with support to achieve effective management strategies and habits. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore current practices of pediatric audiologists who work with children birth to 5 yr of age, regarding their support of parent learning in achieving effective hearing aid management, identify existing gaps in service delivery, and to determine if audiologists were receptive to receiving training related to effective approaches to provide counseling and support to parents. Research Design: A cross-sectional, population-based survey was used. Study Sample: Three hundred and forty-nine surveys were analyzed from pediatric audiologists who provided services to children birth to 5 yr of age. Responses were received from 22 states in the United States. Data Collection and Analysis: Responses were collected through the mail and online. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the information. Results: More than half (61%) of the audiologists in the study had been providing pediatric hearing aid services to children birth to 5 yr of age for >10 yr. Of the audiologists who reported monitoring hours of hearing aid use, the majority reported that they used data logging (90%). More than half of the audiologists (57%) who shared data logging with parents reported that they encountered defensiveness from parents when addressing hearing aid use. Information and skills that were not routinely provided by one-third to one-half of the audiologists included the following: how to get access to loaner hearing aids (30%), available hearing aid options/accessories (33%), available financial assistance (36%), how to teach hearing aid management to other caregivers (38%), how to do hearing aid maintenance (44%), and how to do a Ling 6 sound check (52%). Many audiologists reported they did not frequently collaborate with speech-language pathologists (48%), early interventionists (47%), or physicians (68%). More than half of the audiologists indicated a desire for more training in counseling skills, for all 14 items queried, to support parents with hearing aid management (53–79%), regardless of their previous training experience. Conclusions: For young children with hearing loss to achieve optimal benefit from auditory experiences for speech and language development, they need evidence-based, comprehensive, and coordinated hearing aid management. Audiologists have an important role for teaching information and skills related to hearing aids, supporting parent learning, and collaborating with other providers. Pediatric audiologists in this study recognized and desired the need for further training in counseling skills that can better prepare them to meet the emotional needs of parents in the hearing aid management process.

Parent Hearing Aid Experiences in the United States

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (01) ◽  
pp. 005-016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Muñoz ◽  
Kristina Blaiser ◽  
Karianne Barwick
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Wait Time ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hearing Aid Fitting ◽  
Parent Experiences

Background: Children born with permanent hearing loss have the opportunity to receive services earlier as a result of newborn hearing screening (NHS). We conducted a survey to address three aspects within the early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) process: (1) timeliness of service delivery, (2) hearing device access, and (3) hearing aid management. Parent experiences provide valuable information in identifying existing challenges for these components of the EHDI system. Purpose: The aim was to investigate parent experiences as they access and manage hearing aids for their child. Research Design: A cross-sectional, population-based survey was used. Study Sample: Three hundred fifty-two completed surveys from parents of children born between 1977 and 2010 were returned from 45 states in the United States. Data Collection and Analysis: Responses were obtained online and through the mail, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Over time, the age of hearing loss identification has decreased to a median of 2 mo, age of first hearing aid fitting has decreased to a median of 5 mo, and the delay between hearing loss identification and hearing aid fitting has remained the same with a median of 2 mo. For children born between 2007 and 2010, the top three challenges parents reported in obtaining hearing aids were (1) paying for hearing aids, (2) accepting the need for hearing aids, and (3) wait time for an appointment. Almost one-half (48%) of the parents reported that they did not receive adequate support from their audiologist in how to check the function of their child's hearing aids. Conclusions: Significant progress has been made over the past two decades in reducing the age of hearing loss identification and hearing aid fitting for children who do not pass the NHS. However, many children continue to experience delays between hearing loss diagnosis and hearing aid fitting that exceed Joint Committee on Infant Hearing recommendations. The experiences parents reported provide valuable information about areas that need further investigation to improve the process for children with hearing loss.

scholarly journals The Effects of Manufacturer’s Prefit and Real-Ear Fitting on the Predicted Speech Perception of Children with Severe to Profound Hearing Loss

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (05) ◽  
pp. 346-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian Kar Quar ◽  
Cila Umat ◽  
Yong Yee Chew
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Perception ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
High Input ◽  
Profound Hearing Loss ◽  
High Frequency Region ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractThe use of probe microphone measures in hearing aid verification is often neglected or not fully used by practitioners. Some practitioners rely on simulated gain and output provided by manufacturer's fitting software to verify hearing aids.This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of manufacturer’s prefit procedure in matching the prescribed real-ear targets. It also aims to study its correlated impact on the predicted speech perception in children with severe and profound hearing loss.This cross-sectional experiment was carried out by measuring the output of hearing aids based on prefit versus real-ear at low-, moderate-, and high-input levels. The predicted speech perception for different hearing aid fittings was determined based on the Speech Intelligibility Index (SII).Sixteen children (28 ears) aged between 4 and 7 yr, with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss took part in the study.Two different types of hearing aids (Phonak and Unitron) were programmed based on their respective manufacturers’ Desired Sensation Levels (DSL) v5 Child procedure. The hearing aids were then verified using coupler-based measurements and individual real-ear-to-coupler differences. The prefit outputs were compared with the DSL v5 Child–prescribed outputs at low-, moderate-, and high-input levels. The hearing aids were then adjusted to closely match the prescribed output. The SIIs were calculated for the fittings before and after adjustment.Sixty four percent of fittings that were based on the prefit procedure achieved the optimal fit-to-targets, with less than 5-dB RMS deviations from the DSL v5 Child targets. After adjusting the hearing aids to attempt to meet the DSL v5 Child targets, 75% of the ears tested achieved the optimal fit-to-targets. On average, hearing aid outputs generated by the manufacturer’s prefit procedure had good and reasonable agreement with the DSL v5 Child–prescribed outputs at low- and mid-frequencies. Nonetheless, at 4000 Hz, the hearing aid output mostly fell below the DSL v5 Child–prescribed outputs. This was still the case even after the hearing aid was adjusted to attempt to match with the targets. At low input level, some prefit outputs were found to be higher than the prescribed outputs. The deviations of prefit outputs from the prescribed outputs were dependent on the type of hearing aid and input levels. There was no significant difference between the SII calculated for fittings based on the prefit and adjusted fit.Prefit procedure tends to produce outputs that were below the DSL v5 Child–prescribed outputs, with the largest mean difference at 4000 Hz. Even though the hearing aid gains were adjusted to attempt to match with the targets, the outputs were still below the targets. The limitations of hearing aids to match the DSL v5 Child targets at high-frequency region have resulted in no improvement in the children’s predicted speech perception.

scholarly journals Evaluating the causative factors that lead to rejection of hearing aids among young adults having moderate to severe degree sensorineural hearing loss

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-57
Author(s):  
Hafiz Muhammad Usama Basheer ◽  
Atia Ur Rehman ◽  
Humaira Waseem ◽  
Wajeeha Zaib
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Sound Quality ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Financial Factors ◽  
Causative Factors

Background: Hearing loss in young adulthood causes real stigma and a state of denial. The crucial clinical management to sustain the hearing loss is hearing aid fitting, but most adult people reject it or do not use it. Many factors, including social, personal, and device problems, lessen the usage of hearing aid. The objective of this study was to evaluate the causative factors which can lead to the rejection of hearing aids.  Patients and methods: This was a cross-sectional survey carried out in 9 cities of Punjab, Pakistan, using a convenient sampling technique during summer 2018. A total of 171 participants were included who were young adults ranging from 19-40 years. A questionnaire with 11 factors and a further 35 sub-reasons was given to the participants. Questions were close-ended in yes or no. Data were analyzed through frequency and percentages tabulation with SPSS software. Results: Results showed that hearing aid value/speech clarity was the most problematic reason for patients to reject hearing aid. The given factor had four sub-reasons ('noisy situation,' 'poor benefit,' 'poor sound quality, and 'not suitable for the type of hearing loss). A total number n=154 (90.05%) marked yes for facing poor sound quality followed by poor benefit n=141 (82.45%), not suitable for the type of hearing loss n=121 (70.76%) and noisy situation n=118 (69.00%), thus making hearing aid value the leading cause of rejection. The second leading cause was financial factors followed by situational factors, appearance, fit and comfort, device factors, psychosocial factors, ear infections, care and maintenance, attitude, and family pressure to use a hearing aid.  Conclusion: Most prevalent cause of not taking up a hearing aid is the hearing aid value followed by financial factors, situational factors, appearance, fit, and comfort.

scholarly journals Hearing loss among elderly people and access to hearing aids: a cross-sectional study from a rural area in Germany

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Didczuneit-Sandhop ◽  
Katarzyna Jóźwiak ◽  
Manja Jolie ◽  
Josefine Holdys ◽  
Michael Hauptmann
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Purpose Hearing loss is common and associated with reduced quality of life, particularly among elderly people. However, many patients do not use hearing aids. We evaluated the use of hearing aids among people with hearing loss by health services availability near their residence in a rural area in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. Methods Audiometry was performed in a convenience sample of subjects in ten towns and hearing loss was determined, defined as a threshold of ≥ 30 dB in at least one ear and at least one of the frequencies 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 kHz. For each participant, age and gender were collected and whether or not hearing aids were available. Results Among 186 persons with an average age of 74 years (interquartile range 71–81), 97% had hearing loss [95% confidence interval (CI) 95–100]. Among 121 patients with hearing loss who reported whether or not they have a hearing aid, 93 had no hearing aid (77%, 95% CI 69–84). The proportion of hearing-impaired persons who do not have a hearing aid significantly increased with the absence of a hearing aid specialist or ear nose throat (ENT) physician or both in the town where the tests were performed (p trend = 0.001). Conclusion Hearing loss is common among elderly people in the study area and many people in rural areas in Germany may not be properly supplied with hearing aids due to lack of hearing aid specialists and/or ENT physicians close to their residence. Interventions to improve this situation are urgently required.

scholarly journals Trends in Hearing Aid Use Among Older Adults in the United States, 2011-2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 105-105
Author(s):  
Nicholas Reed ◽  
Emmanuel Garcia Morales ◽  
Amber Willink
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Utilization ◽  
Medicare Beneficiaries ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Hearing loss among older adults is prevalent and associated with dementia and health care utilization. However, cross-sectional data suggest less than 20% of adults with hearing loss use hearing aids. There is a paucity of studies examining trends in hearing aid ownership over time. This study analyzed data from the 2011, 2015, and 2018 cycles of the National Health Aging and Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally-representative longitudinal study of Medicare Beneficiaries. Participants were asked “in the last month, [have you/has [he/she]] use a hearing aid or other hearing device?” (“yes” or “no”). Among a weighted sample of Medicare Beneficiaries 70 years and older (26.47 million in 2011; 29.70 million in 2015; and 33.28 in 2018), the overall proportion who own and use hearing aids rose from 14.96% in 2011 to 16.90% in 2015 to 18.45% in 2018. As age increased so did the proportion of older adults who used hearing aids. A smaller proportion of Black Americans used hearing aids across time and experienced a smaller overall increase in the proportion in hearing aid ownership over the 8-year period compared to White Americans (+0.78% vs. +4.30%). Black women had the lowest rates of hearing aids use across the 8-year period. Notably, older adults at less than 100% of the federal poverty level experienced an overall decrease in proportion of hearing aid ownership and use. This study lays the groundwork to examine the impact of the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 across subpopulations when it takes effect in 2021.

The Relationship Between Hearing Loss Self-Management and Hearing Aid Benefit and Satisfaction

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Convery ◽  
Gitte Keidser ◽  
Louise Hickson ◽  
Carly Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Hearing Aid Benefit ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Hearing loss self-management refers to the knowledge and skills people use to manage the effects of hearing loss on all aspects of their daily lives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-reported hearing loss self-management and hearing aid benefit and satisfaction. Method Thirty-seven adults with hearing loss, all of whom were current users of bilateral hearing aids, participated in this observational study. The participants completed self-report inventories probing their hearing loss self-management and hearing aid benefit and satisfaction. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between individual domains of hearing loss self-management and hearing aid benefit and satisfaction. Results Participants who reported better self-management of the effects of their hearing loss on their emotional well-being and social participation were more likely to report less aided listening difficulty in noisy and reverberant environments and greater satisfaction with the effect of their hearing aids on their self-image. Participants who reported better self-management in the areas of adhering to treatment, participating in shared decision making, accessing services and resources, attending appointments, and monitoring for changes in their hearing and functional status were more likely to report greater satisfaction with the sound quality and performance of their hearing aids. Conclusion Study findings highlight the potential for using information about a patient's hearing loss self-management in different domains as part of clinical decision making and management planning.

FM Verification for the 21 st Century

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leisha Eiten ◽  
Dawna Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Current Technology ◽  
The Past ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Children With Hearing Loss

Background: For children with hearing loss, the benefits of FM systems in overcoming deleterious effects of noise, distance, and reverberation have led to recommendations for use beyond classroom settings. It is important that audiologists who recommend and fit these devices understand the rationale and procedures underlying fitting and verification. Objectives: This article reviews previousguidelines for FM verification, addresses technological advances, and introduces verification procedures appropriate for current FM and hearing-aid technology. Methods: Previous guidelines for verification of FM systems are reviewed. Those recommendations that are appropriate for current technology are addressed, as are procedures that are no longer adequate for hearing aids and FM systems utilizing more complex processing than in the past. Technological advances are discussed, and an updated approach to FM verification is proposed. Conclusions: Approaches to verification andfitting of FM systems must keep pace with advances in hearing-aid and FM technology. The transparency approach addressed in this paper is recommended for verification of FM systems coupled to hearing aids.

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