title: Relationship between Speech Perception and Level of Satisfaction of Hearing Aid Users.
abstract: IntroductionHearing difficulties can be minimized by the use of hearing aids.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to assess the speech perception and satisfaction of hearing aids users before and after aid adaptation and to determine whether these measures are correlated.MethodsThe study was conducted on 65 individuals, 54% females and 46% males aged 63 years on average, after the systematic use of hearing aids for at least three months. We characterized subjectś personal identification data, the degree, and configuration of hearing loss, as well as aspects related to adaptation. We then applied a satisfaction questionnaire and a speech perception test (words and sentences), with and without the use of the hearing aids.ResultsMean speech recognition with words and sentences was 69% and 79%, respectively, with hearing aids use; whereas, without hearing aids use the figures were 43% and 53%. Mean questionnaire score was 30.1 points. Regarding hearing loss characteristics, 78.5% of the subjects had a sensorineural loss, 20% a mixed loss, and 1.5% a conductive loss. Hearing loss of moderate degree was present in 60.5% of cases, loss of descending configuration in 47%, and plain loss in 37.5%. There was no correlation between individual satisfaction and the percentages of the speech perception tests applied.ConclusionWord and sentence recognition was significantly better with the use of the hearing aids. The users showed a high degree of satisfaction. In the present study, there was no correlation observed between the levels of speech perception and levels of user satisfaction measured with the questionnaire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erika Barioni
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Mantello
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla Dias da
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Tanaka
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Massuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Miguel Angelo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hyppolito
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Cláudia Mirândola Barbosa Dos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Reis
keywords: hearing aids; hearing loss; hearing perception; patient satisfaction; questionnaires