Prospective evaluation of the value of direct referral hearing aid clinic in management of young patients with bilateral hearing loss.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value and effectiveness of a direct referral hearing aid clinic (DRHAC) in providing appropriate hearing aids to young patients aged 18-60 years while at the same time identifying patients with significant ear disease who need an otologist's opinion. The patients were referred to a tertiary referral hearing assessment clinic. A total of 137 patients (18-60 years) met the criteria to be included in the study to be assessed in the clinic by both an audiometrician and an otologist. The main outcome measures were hearing evaluation and audiometrician's management. Of them, 114 patients attended the research clinic (83%), 23 patients (17%) did not attend the clinic and 57 patients (51%) did not need any treatment or further investigation as their hearing was normal or near normal. Thirty patients (27%) were given hearing aids. Twenty-five patients (22%) failed the audiometrician assessment and were referred to the otologist. Only 13 (18%) of the 25 patients referred for an otological opinion actually required further investigations, medical or surgical treatment. DRHAC is as viable a system in the younger as in the elderly population.