The influence of hearing aids on the quality of life of the elderly in an underprivileged community: a pilot study
Loading...
Links to Files
Permanent Link
Author/Creator
Author/Creator ORCID
Date
2013-02-26
Type of Work
Department
Towson University. Department of Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology and Deaf Studies
Program
Citation of Original Publication
Rights
Copyright protected, all rights reserved.
There are no restrictions on access to this document. An internet release form signed by the author to display this document online is on file with Towson University Special Collections and Archives.
There are no restrictions on access to this document. An internet release form signed by the author to display this document online is on file with Towson University Special Collections and Archives.
Subjects
Abstract
The current study aimed to identify and treat hearing loss in an underprivileged community and evaluate the effect, if any, amplification had on quality of life. A total of 15 adults, between the ages of 67 and 89 years, completed a cognitive screening, using the Six-Item Screener (SIS) and a hearing handicap screening, using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly-Screener (HHIE-S) and underwent a peripheral hearing assessment. Seven of these participants were excluded from the analysis, as they did not meet the criteria for this study (4-frequency PTA (.5, 1, 2, & 4 kHz) > or = 26 dB HL, in at least one ear). Seven participants were fitted bilaterally. One participant, with a unilateral moderate to severe hearing loss, was fit with a contralateral routing of signals (CROS) hearing aid system. All participants fitted with hearing aids completed the HHIE-S questionnaire again, 4-5 weeks after their hearing aid fitting. Improvement in HHIE-S scores (lower scores) indicating an improved quality of life (QOL) after 4-5 weeks of hearing aid use were observed; however, when analyzed it was not a significant finding. The results also revealed a strong positive correlation between right and left ear 4-frequency PTAs and pre-HHIE-S scores. The correlation revealed that the more severe the hearing loss the greater impact on emotional and social quality of life as indicated by the HHIE-S scores. Results from this pilot study indicate that future studies should include more participants, use of the adaptation manager on the hearing aid(s) at the initial fitting, at least one follow-up appointment after the initial hearing aid fitting and before any follow-up questionnaires, and a longer duration between initial hearing aid fitting and administration of the second HHIE-S.