title: Speech perception and quality of life of open-fit hearing aid users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To relate the performance of individuals with hearing loss at high frequencies in speech perception with the quality of life before and after the fitting of an open-fit hearing aid (HA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The WHOQOL-BREF had been used before the fitting and 90 days after the use of HA. The Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) had been conducted in two phases: (1) at the time of fitting without an HA (situation A) and with an HA (situation B); (2) with an HA 90 days after fitting (situation C).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty subjects with sensorineural hearing loss at high frequencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By using an analysis of variance and the Tukey's test comparing the three HINT situations in quiet and noisy environments, an improvement has been observed after the HA fitting. The results of the WHOQOL-BREF have showed an improvement in the quality of life after the HA fitting (paired t-test). The relationship between speech perception and quality of life before the HA fitting indicated a significant relationship between speech recognition in noisy environments and in the domain of social relations after the HA fitting (Pearson's correlation coefficient).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The auditory stimulation has improved speech perception and the quality of life of individuals.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru, Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Bauru, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Manfrini
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru, Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Bauru, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Regina Tangerino de Souza
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru, Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Bauru, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda Capoani Garcia
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mondelli
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors