Factors associated with the efficiency of hearing aids for patients with age-related hearing loss

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the satisfaction of age-related hearing loss (ARHL) or presbycusis patients with individual, accurate, and precise fitting progress, which is a priority for bilateral hearing aids, and to explore the related influencing factors and their role in predicting the efficiency of hearing aids. METHODS: A total of 73 cases of presbycusis patients aged 60–95 years old underwent pure tone audiometry and speech recognition ability examination to obtain the pure tone audiometry of the better ear (BPTA) and maximum speech recognition rate of the better ear (BSRR) in quiet environment before hearing aid fitting. Audiologists evaluated the efficiency and satisfaction of participants according to the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) questionnaire scores by face-to-face or telephone investigations after using the hearing aids for at least 3 months. The data were analyzed related to possible influencing factors. RESULTS: Total satisfaction percentage according to IOI-HA scores was 86.3%. There was no significant correlation between age, first fitting age, unilateral or bilateral hearing aids, BPTA, and IOI-HA total score. BSRR was strongly correlated to total IOI-HA scores (r=0.768). According to the multiple linear regression analysis, BPTA and BSRR both had a statistically significant effect on the total IOI-HA scores after hearing aid intervention. CONCLUSION: ARHL patients with accurate hearing aid fitting will have high satisfaction and bilateral hearing aids are better than unilateral ones. Age and first fitting age are not meaningful to satisfaction with hearing aids. A higher maximum speech recognition rate before hearing aids fitting could predict better efficiency and satisfaction with hearing aids. Therefore, completing speech recognition ability examination before fitting would make a great contribution to the efficiency of hearing aids, and help ARHL patients have realistic expectations.