STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated how closely the DSL v5.0 a prescription could be approximated with hearing aids, its relationship to preferred listening levels (PLLs) of adults with acquired hearing loss, and the self-reported outcomes of the resulting fittings. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty adults with varying degrees and configurations of hearing loss ranging from mild to severe. METHODS: Hearing aid output was measured after the initial fitting to DSL v5.0 a targets and after determination of the PLL after approximately 90 days. The Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) was used to evaluate outcome. RESULTS: The 95% confidence interval of fits to target ranged from 5.8 to 8.4 dB across frequency. The DSL v5.0 a adult algorithm approximated the PLLs of the participants within 2.6 dB on average. Hearing aid fittings provided positive subjective outcome improvements on the COSI. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the use of DSL v5.0 a for the fitting of hearing aids on adults with acquired hearing loss was feasible and provided an appropriate initial fitting.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated how closely the DSL v5.0 a prescription could be approximated with hearing aids, its relationship to preferred listening levels (PLLs) of adults with acquired hearing loss, and the self-reported outcomes of the resulting fittings. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty adults with varying degrees and configurations of hearing loss ranging from mild to severe. METHODS: Hearing aid output was measured after the initial fitting to DSL v5.0 a targets and after determination of the PLL after approximately 90 days. The Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) was used to evaluate outcome. RESULTS: The 95% confidence interval of fits to target ranged from 5.8 to 8.4 dB across frequency. The DSL v5.0 a adult algorithm approximated the PLLs of the participants within 2.6 dB on average. Hearing aid fittings provided positive subjective outcome improvements on the COSI. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the use of DSL v5.0 a for the fitting of hearing aids on adults with acquired hearing loss was feasible and provided an appropriate initial fitting.