Relationship between acceptable noise level and the abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the relationship between acceptable noise levels (ANLs) and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB; R. M. Cox & G. C. Alexander, 1995). This study further examined the APHAB's ability to predict hearing aid use.


METHODS
ANL and APHAB data were collected for 191 listeners with impaired hearing, separated into 3 groups based on hearing aid use: full-time, part-time, or nonuse.


RESULTS
Results demonstrated ANLs were not correlated with APHAB scores. Results further demonstrated 2 of the 4 APHAB subscales (Ease of Communication [EC] and Background Noise [BN]) predicted hearing aid success with 60% accuracy, which is 25% poorer than that observed using the ANL alone. When combining the ANL with the EC and BN subscales, accuracy of the prediction increased to 91%. Lastly, 3 of the 4 APHAB subscales (EC, BN, and Reverberation) enhanced the present prediction of hearing aid use for patients with mid-range ANLs.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that ANLs and APHAB scores provide unique information regarding hearing aid use. These results further indicate that the prediction can be enhanced by administering both the ANL and the EC and BN APHAB subscales. Lastly, some of the ambiguity of the prediction of hearing aid use for listeners with mid-range ANLs may be eliminated.
Freyaldenhoven
Melinda C
MC
Department Speech, Louisiana Tech University, P.O. Box 3165, Ruston, LA 71272, USA. melinda@latech.edu
Nabelek
Anna K
AK
Tampas
Joanna W
JW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests