Self-perception of hearing ability as a strong predictor of hearing aid purchase.
BACKGROUND
Hearing threshold data are not particularly predictive of self-perceived hearing handicap or readiness to pursue amplification. Poor correlations between these measures have been reported repeatedly. When a patient is evaluated for hearing loss, it is common to collect both threshold data and the individual's self-perception of hearing ability. This is done to help the patient make an appropriate choice related to the pursuit of amplification or other communication strategies. It would be valuable, though, for the audiologist to be able to predict which patients are ready for amplification, which patients require more extensive counseling before pursuing amplification, and which patients simply are not ready for amplification regardless of the audiometric data.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the following question for its potential usefulness as a determinant of patient readiness for amplification: "On a scale from 1 to 10, 1 being the worst and 10 being the best, how would you rate your overall hearing ability?"


METHODS
The test-retest reliability and the predictive value of the question, based on final hearing aid purchase, were evaluated in a private practice setting.


METHODS
Eight hundred forty hearing-impaired adults in the age range from 18 to 95 years. COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were collected retrospectively from patient files.


CONCLUSIONS
Results were repeatable and supported the use of this question in similar clinical settings.
Palmer
Catherine V
CV
University of Pittsburgh, 4033 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. palmercv@upmc.edu
Solodar
Helena S
HS
Hurley
Whitney R
WR
Byrne
David C
DC
Williams
Kadyn O
KO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000523:psychology*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult