title: Degree of satisfaction among hearing aid users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hearing loss (HL) is defined as the complete or partial loss of hearing ability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize (1) the degree of satisfaction among adult and elderly hearing aid (HA) users who were treated by a public hearing health service and (2) the relationship between satisfaction and the variables of gender, age, degree of HL, and type of HA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical and experimental study included the administration of the Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life (SADL) questionnaire to 110 patients who had used HAs for more than 3 months and were 18 years of age or older.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test patients were sex-balanced (48% were women) and had a mean age of 67 years. A relatively high incidence of sensorineural moderate HL was detected in the study patients (66%) and device B was the most commonly used HA type (48%). No significant differences were evident between HA satisfaction and sex. The importance placed on services/costs and personal image varied between age groups. Correlation was evident at all levels between user satisfaction and amplification. Decreased satisfaction was observed in individuals with severe and/or profound HL. The type of HA used yielded statistically significant differences in the positive effects referring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No correlations were evident between the different factors proposed. HA users exhibited high levels of satisfaction in all SADL areas.
authors.affiliation: Professor.
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda Capoani Garcia
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mondelli
authors.affiliation: Student (fourth-year undergraduate).
authors.forename: Andressa Vital
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Professor.
authors.forename: Heitor Marques
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Honório
keywords: hearing aids; hearing loss; patient satisfaction