A Abdellaoui1, P Tran Ba Huy. 1. Service ORL, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify epidemiological, socioeconomic, audiometric and environmental factors of success and failure of hearing-aid prescription, and to assess hearing-aid efficacy at 6-9 months after prescription. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective nationwide survey was conducted in France on 184 patients with age-related hearing loss. Inclusion data were collected by a questionnaire filled out by the ENT specialist and patient, and with a second questionnaire filled out by telephone contact with the patient 6-9 months later. RESULTS: One-third of patients failed to fulfill the prescription, either for financial reasons or for lack of interest in correcting their disability. For the other two-thirds, the factors favoring consultation with a hearing-aid fitting specialist seemed to be: leisure activity requiring good hearing, living in a couple or family, spontaneous initial ENT consultation, strong motivation, monthly income greater than €1200, longstanding hearing impairment, and difficulty in listening to television and following a conversation in noise. Eighty percent of hearing-aid trials were successful; 60% of prescriptions were thus followed by hearing-aid purchase. The main three criteria determining purchase were the advice of the hearing-aid fitting specialist, and the price and the effectiveness of the apparatus on trial. In the four daily life situations presented in the questionnaire, the hearing-aid was worn for 8 hours or more in 90% of cases, found useful in 70% and proved satisfactory in 70%. Age-related hearing loss, whether metabolic or sensorineural, benefited from hearing-aid correction in 86% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Indications for hearing-aid prescription should take account of the patient's degree of motivation, awareness of disability, and income. The advice of the ENT and hearing-aid fitting specialists plays a key role in the patient's acceptance of the hearing-aid. Hearing-aids seem to enhance quality of life significantly in age-related hearing loss subjects.
OBJECTIVES: To identify epidemiological, socioeconomic, audiometric and environmental factors of success and failure of hearing-aid prescription, and to assess hearing-aid efficacy at 6-9 months after prescription. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective nationwide survey was conducted in France on 184 patients with age-related hearing loss. Inclusion data were collected by a questionnaire filled out by the ENT specialist and patient, and with a second questionnaire filled out by telephone contact with the patient 6-9 months later. RESULTS: One-third of patients failed to fulfill the prescription, either for financial reasons or for lack of interest in correcting their disability. For the other two-thirds, the factors favoring consultation with a hearing-aid fitting specialist seemed to be: leisure activity requiring good hearing, living in a couple or family, spontaneous initial ENT consultation, strong motivation, monthly income greater than €1200, longstanding hearing impairment, and difficulty in listening to television and following a conversation in noise. Eighty percent of hearing-aid trials were successful; 60% of prescriptions were thus followed by hearing-aid purchase. The main three criteria determining purchase were the advice of the hearing-aid fitting specialist, and the price and the effectiveness of the apparatus on trial. In the four daily life situations presented in the questionnaire, the hearing-aid was worn for 8 hours or more in 90% of cases, found useful in 70% and proved satisfactory in 70%. Age-related hearing loss, whether metabolic or sensorineural, benefited from hearing-aid correction in 86% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Indications for hearing-aid prescription should take account of the patient's degree of motivation, awareness of disability, and income. The advice of the ENT and hearing-aid fitting specialists plays a key role in the patient's acceptance of the hearing-aid. Hearing-aids seem to enhance quality of life significantly in age-related hearing loss subjects.
Authors: Margaret Barnett; Brian Hixon; Neville Okwiri; Catherine Irungu; John Ayugi; Robin Thompson; Jennifer B Shinn; Matthew L Bush Journal: Laryngoscope Date: 2016-08-22 Impact factor: 3.325
Authors: Chelsea S Sawyer; Christopher J Armitage; Kevin J Munro; Gurjit Singh; Piers D Dawes Journal: Ear Hear Date: 2020 Sep/Oct Impact factor: 3.562