title: Self-perception of the hearing-impaired elderly before and after hearing-aid fittings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of hearing aid (HA) fittings among elderly patients through the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was carried out with 125 hearing-impaired individuals over aged 65 years in the northern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The instrument used was the HHIE self-assessment questionnaire. HHIE were completed before and after HA fittings. Data were analyzed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon test and the McNemar χ(2)-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant decreases in general, social and emotional handicap after HA use (P < 0.001). The percentage of patients with severe hearing handicap decreased from 45.6% to 8.8% with HA use. The greatest difficulty reported by respondents, both before and after HA use, was "hearing when someone whispers".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although HA use significantly improves the hearing handicap, some older adults still maintain social and emotional limitations. The HHIE instrument can be a great ally in helping professionals understand and rehabilitate the difficulties that remain after amplification.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mirna Rossi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4242-4752
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel de Sousa
authors.initials: Dde S
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiza Augusta Rosa
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rossi-Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marise Fagundes
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea Maria Eleutério
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Barros Lima Martins
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônio Prates
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Caldeira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: elderly; hearing aid; hearing loss; self-assessment