Measuring hearing aid benefit using a willingness-to-pay approach.

The value associated with self-perceived hearing aid benefit was assessed using a "willingness-to-pay" (WTP) approach. Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) data were obtained from 79 veterans who also indicated how much they were willing to pay for each hearing aid. The results of a multiple regression analysis revealed that veterans were willing to pay $22.06 more for a hearing aid for each 1-point increase in APHAB global benefit. A second multiple regression analysis revealed that the APHAB subscale scores for Ease of Communication (EC) benefit and understanding speech in Background Noise (BN) benefit, as well as income level, were all significant predictors of WTP. In addition, each 1-point increase in EC, BN, and Reverberation benefit increased the value associated with amplification by $16.32, $16.88, and $13.78, respectively. Each 1-point increase in the Aversiveness of Sounds subscale decreased the value associated with amplification by $7.63. The mean WTP across all income groups was $981.71 per hearing aid. These data are interpreted to support the use of WTP as a valid measure of hearing aid benefit.