scholarly journals Pilot Study to Evaluate Hearing Aid Service Delivery Model and Measure Benefit Using Self-Report Outcome Measures Using Community Hearing Workers in a Developing Country

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingamdenne Paul Emerson ◽  
Anand Job ◽  
Vinod Abraham
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Digital Hearing Aid ◽  
Rehabilitative Services ◽  
Report Outcome Measure

Hearing loss is a major handicap in developing countries with paucity of trained audiologists and limited resources. In this pilot study trained community health workers were used to provide comprehensive hearing aid services in the community. One hundred and eleven patients were fitted with semi-digital hearing aid and were evaluated over a period of six months. They were assessed using self-report outcome measure APHAB. Results show that trained CHWs are effective in detecting disabling hearing loss and in providing HAs. APHAB can identify and pick up significant improvements in communication in daily activities and provides a realistic expectation of the benefits of a hearing aid. The model of using trained CHWs to provide rehabilitative services in audiology along with self-report outcome measures can be replicated in other developing countries.

The Relationship Between Hearing Loss Self-Management and Hearing Aid Benefit and Satisfaction

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Convery ◽  
Gitte Keidser ◽  
Louise Hickson ◽  
Carly Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Hearing Aid Benefit ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Hearing loss self-management refers to the knowledge and skills people use to manage the effects of hearing loss on all aspects of their daily lives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-reported hearing loss self-management and hearing aid benefit and satisfaction. Method Thirty-seven adults with hearing loss, all of whom were current users of bilateral hearing aids, participated in this observational study. The participants completed self-report inventories probing their hearing loss self-management and hearing aid benefit and satisfaction. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between individual domains of hearing loss self-management and hearing aid benefit and satisfaction. Results Participants who reported better self-management of the effects of their hearing loss on their emotional well-being and social participation were more likely to report less aided listening difficulty in noisy and reverberant environments and greater satisfaction with the effect of their hearing aids on their self-image. Participants who reported better self-management in the areas of adhering to treatment, participating in shared decision making, accessing services and resources, attending appointments, and monitoring for changes in their hearing and functional status were more likely to report greater satisfaction with the sound quality and performance of their hearing aids. Conclusion Study findings highlight the potential for using information about a patient's hearing loss self-management in different domains as part of clinical decision making and management planning.

Management of tinnitus induced by brainstem and cerebellar infarction associated with complications of cerebello-pontine angle surgery

2007 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Brewis ◽  
D M Baguley
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Sensorineural Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Cerebellar Infarction ◽  
Hearing Aid Fitting ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Digital Hearing Aid ◽  
The Right ◽  
Severe Tinnitus

Following surgery in the USA in 1992 to remove a large right cerebello-pontine angle tumour, a 39-year-old woman developed severe brainstem and cerebellar infarction. This left her with severe visual impairment and ataxia. She became able to communicate by means of an adapted finger-spelling alphabet. She had total hearing loss in the right ear and a mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss in the left ear, and severe tinnitus heard throughout the head. Additionally, she experienced hypersensitivity to sound above normal conversational levels, which evoked a synaesthetic feeling of coldness across her upper torso. Previous linear analogue hearing aid fitting had not been beneficial for either hearing or tinnitus. Careful fitting of a digital hearing aid, together with tinnitus counselling, inhibited the patient's tinnitus to 25 per cent of its former intensity after a six month acclimatisation period, and improved communication.

Hearing-Aid Outcome Measures Following One Month of Hearing Aid Use by the Elderly

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry E. Humes ◽  
Carolyn B. Garner ◽  
Dana L. Wilson ◽  
Nancy N. Barlow
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Impaired Hearing ◽  
Hearing Aid Use ◽  
Class D

This study reports the results of a large number of hearing-aid outcome measures obtained from 173 elderly hearing-aid wearers following one month of hearing-aid use. All participants in this study were fit binaurally with identical full-concha in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids having linear Class-D amplifiers with output-limiting compression. Outcome measures included several measures of speech recognition, as well as several self-report measures of hearing-aid performance, benefit, satisfaction, and use. Comparison of mean data from this sample of hearing-aid wearers to other larger sets of data, obtained previously for several of these measures of hearing-aid outcome evaluated in isolation, indicated that the participants in this study were representative of the participants in other largerscale studies. Subsequent principal-components factor analysis of the data from this study indicated that there were seven distinct dimensions of hearing-aid outcome. Attempts to document the effectiveness and efficacy of hearing aids for elderly persons with impaired hearing will be most complete when assessing performance along all seven dimensions of hearing-aid outcome. Clinically efficient procedures for doing so are discussed.

scholarly journals DIGITAL HEARING AID SIGNAL PROCESSING SYSTEM USING ANDROID PHONE

2019 ◽  
pp. 177-181
Author(s):  
YEH-HUANN GOH ◽  
YOON-KET LEE ◽  
MUM-WAI YIP ◽  
KOK-SENG EU ◽  
YANN LING GOH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Processing ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Frequency Response ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Processing Algorithm ◽  
Signal Processing Algorithm ◽  
Digital Hearing Aid ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Digital Algorithm

Objective: The objective of this research is to propose an Android-based digital hearing aid signal processing algorithm with following key features:(1) Regenerated audio match the patient-specific pattern of hearing loss, (2) noise reduction, and (3) provide flexibility to the users.Methods: The proposed signal processing algorithm is designed based on the specific hearing loss of the hearing disorder patient using inverse Fouriertransform; besides, noise reduction feature is included in the digital algorithm design as well. Proposed digital algorithm has been implemented intoan Android-based smartphone and its performance has been tested under real-time condition.Results: Simulation results show that the frequency response of the proposed digital hearing aid signal processing algorithm is in agreement withthe initial theoretical design that was carried out based on the hearing impaired patient’s audiogram. The proposed algorithm has been implementedin the Android-based smartphone and tested in real time. Results show that most of the patients are satisfied with the regenerated audio quality.According to patient’s comments, the regenerated audio is clear and the users are allowed to control the volume level. Besides, no obvious hearinglatency can be detected.Conclusion: Audio signals generated by the proposed digital signal processing algorithm show similar audio signal frequency response in boththeoretical design and MATLAB simulation results. The only difference between the design and simulation results is the amplification levels. Theproposed algorithm provides flexibility to the users by allowing them to choose the desired amplification level. In real-time testing, the proposedAndroid-based digital hearing aid is able to reduce noise level from the surrounding and the output processed speech match the patient-specifichearing loss.

Use of Hearing Aids and Assistive Listening Devices in an Older Australian Population

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 642-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hartley ◽  
Elena Rochtchina ◽  
Philip Newall ◽  
Maryanne Golding ◽  
Paul Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Older People ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Australian Population ◽  
Factors Associated

Background: Hearing loss is a common sensory impairment experienced by older persons. Evidence shows that the use of hearing aids and/or assistive listening devices (ALDs) can benefit those with a hearing loss but that historically the uptake and use of these technologies has remained relatively low compared with the number of people who report a hearing loss. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, usage, and factors associated with the use of hearing aids and ALDs in an older representative Australian population. Research Design: A population-based survey. Study Sample: A total of 2956 persons out of 3914 eligible people between the ages of 49 and 99 yr (mean age 67.4 yr), living in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, completed a hearing study conducted from 1997 to 2003. Data Collection and Analysis: Hearing levels were assessed using pure tone audiometry, and subjects were administered a comprehensive hearing survey by audiologists, which included questions about hearing aid and ALD usage. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with hearing aid and ALD usage. Results: Of the surveyed population, 33% had a hearing loss as measured in the better ear. 4.4% had used an ALD in the past 12 mo, and 11% owned a hearing aid. Of current hearing aid owners, 24% never used their aids. ALD and hearing aid usage were found to be associated with increasing age, hearing loss, and self-perceived hearing disability. Conclusions: These results indicate that hearing aid ownership and ALD usage remains low in the older population. Given the significant proportion of older people who self-report and have a measured hearing loss, it is possible that more could be helped through the increased use of hearing aid and/or ALD technology. Greater efforts are needed to promote the benefits of these technologies and to support their use among older people with hearing loss.

Hearing aids and tinnitus therapy: a 25-year experience

2008 ◽  
Vol 122 (10) ◽  
pp. 1052-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
M I Trotter ◽  
I Donaldson
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Digital Hearing Aids ◽  
Subjective Tinnitus ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Digital Hearing Aid ◽  
Tinnitus Therapy ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjectives:(1) To assess the subjective tinnitus perception of patients with audiologically proven hearing loss presenting to a tinnitus clinic, both before and after hearing aid provision; (2) to investigate subjective tinnitus perception in patients with unilateral and bilateral hearing loss; and (3) to assess the impact on tinnitus perception, if any, of a digital hearing aid programme in patients provided with hearing aids.Design:Prospective data collection for patients attending a tinnitus clinic over a 25-year period (1980–2004).Setting:University teaching hospital otolaryngology department.Participants:A total of 2153 consecutive patients attending a consultant-delivered specialist tinnitus clinic.Main outcomes measures:A visual analogue scale was used to assess the degree of tinnitus perception improvement, if any, comparing before versus after unilateral or bilateral aiding (in those with audiometrically proven hearing loss). A further assessment compared the effect of digital hearing aid programme introduction on symptomatic tinnitus perception in patients provided with unilateral or bilateral aids.Results:A total of 1440 patients were given hearing aids (826 unilateral and 614 bilateral). There was little difference in tinnitus perception, comparing overall aiding results in unilaterally or bilaterally aided patients. Overall, 554 (67 per cent) of unilaterally aided patients and 424 (69 per cent) of bilaterally aided patients reported some improvement in their tinnitus perception following aiding. There was a statistically significant improvement in tinnitus perception, comparing analogue aids with digital hearing aids, following introduction of a digital hearing aid programme in 2000, in both unilaterally (p < 0.001) and bilaterally (p < 0.001) aided patients.Conclusions:Provision of hearing aids in patients with audiometrically demonstrable hearing loss can play a very important part in tinnitus control. The additional improvement in tinnitus control observed following introduction of programmable digital aids had a summative effect in the management of these patients.

Are hearing aid owners able to identify and self-report handling difficulties? A pilot study

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 887-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Bennett ◽  
Carly Meyer ◽  
Michelle Olaithe ◽  
Dunay Schmulian ◽  
Robert H. Eikelboom
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Self Report

scholarly journals An Application of the Medical Research Council's Guidelines for Evaluating Complex Interventions: A Usability Study Assessing Smartphone-Connected Listening Devices in Adults With Hearing Loss

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (3S) ◽  
pp. 474-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Maidment ◽  
Melanie Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Medical Research ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Self Report ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Sound Amplification

Purpose The purpose of this study is to provide an example of the Medical Research Council's guidelines for evaluating complex health care interventions in the context of smartphone-connected listening devices in adults with hearing loss. Method Twenty existing hearing aid users trialed 1 of the following smartphone-connected listening devices: made-for-smartphone hearing aids, a personal sound amplification product, and a smartphone “hearing aid” application used with either wireless or wired earphones. Following 2 weeks of use in their everyday lives, participants completed self-report outcome measures. Results Relative to conventional hearing aids, self-reported use, benefit, and satisfaction were higher, and residual disability was lower for made-for-smartphone hearing aids. The converse was found for the other smartphone-connected listening devices trialed. Similarly, overall usability was judged to be “above average” for the made-for-smartphone hearing aids, but “below average” for the remaining devices. Conclusions This developmental work, guided by the Medical Research Council's framework, lays the foundation for feasibility and pilot studies, leading to high-quality research assessing the effectiveness of smartphone-connected listening devices. This future evidence is necessary to guide health care commissioners and policymakers when considering new service delivery models for adults living with hearing loss.

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