title: Use of the satisfaction with amplification in daily life questionnaire to assess patient satisfaction following remote hearing aid adjustments (telefitting).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hearing loss can affect approximately 15% of the pediatric population and up to 40% of the adult population. The gold standard of treatment for hearing loss is amplification of hearing thresholds by means of a hearing aid instrument. A hearing aid is an electronic device equipped with a topology of only three major components of aggregate cost. The gold standard of hearing aid fittings is face-to-face appointments in hearing aid centers, clinics, or hospitals. Telefitting encompasses the programming and adjustments of hearing aid settings remotely. Fitting hearing aids remotely is a relatively simple procedure, using minimal computer hardware and Internet access.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This project aimed to examine the feasibility and outcomes of remote hearing aid adjustments (telefitting) by assessing patient satisfaction via the Portuguese version of the Satisfaction With Amplification in Daily Life (SADL) questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Brazilian Portuguese version of the SADL was used in this experimental research design. Participants were randomly selected through the Rehabilitation Clinical (Espaco Reouvir) of the Otorhinolaryngology Department Medical School University of Sao Paulo. Of the 8 participants in the study, 5 were female and 3 were male, with a mean age of 71.5 years. The design consisted of two face-to-face sessions performed within 15 working days of each other. The remote assistance took place 15 days later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average scores from this study are above the mean scores from the original SADL normative data. These indicate a high level of satisfaction in participants who were fitted remotely.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of an evaluation questionnaire is a simple yet effective method to objectively assess the success of a remote fitting. Questionnaire outcomes can help hearing stakeholders improve the National Policy on Hearing Health Care in Brazil. The results of this project indicated that patient satisfaction levels of those fitted remotely were comparable to those fitted in the conventional manner, that is, face-to-face.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Otorhinolaryngology Department, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. penteadosp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Silvio Pires
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9473-3541
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Penteado
authors.forename: Ricardo Ferreira
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3749-4684
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Bento
authors.forename: Linamara Rizzo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5275-0733
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Battistella
authors.forename: Sara Manami
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0000-8083
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Prasha
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7812-3543
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sooful
keywords: audiology; correction of hearing impairment; hearing aids; hearing loss; prosthesis fitting; public policy; quality improvement; questionnairies; telemedicine