title: Self-perceived and audiometric evaluations of hearing aid benefit in the elderly.
abstract: This study was designed to monitor benefit received from the use of amplification by 58 elderly new hearing users. The longitudinal study assessed changes in self-perceived handicap and audiometric measures by analyzing data at prefitting and at 3-wk, 3-mo, 6-mo, and 1-yr postfitting intervals. Measurement tools included the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), functional gain (500 through 4000 Hz), and speech recognition measures in quiet and in noise. Results indicated a significant decrease in perceived handicap after 3 wk of hearing aid use. After 3 mo, perceived handicap increased significantly before leveling off at 6 mo and 1 yr. Audiometric measures remained constant throughout the period under investigation. Benefit as defined using functional gain data was unrelated to benefit as defined using self-report data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech Communication, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000523:psychology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment