Hearing aid use in the elderly as measured by datalogging and self-report.
The primary aim was to compare the objective and the subjective assessments of hearing aid use among elderly people at a 6-month follow-up after fitting. A secondary aim was to determine whether advanced knowledge of follow-up impacts hearing aid use.



Hearing aid use was assessed by datalogging (objective) and self-report (subjective) 6 months after initial fitting. Participants were also randomised to an intervention (informed of 6-month follow-up at fitting) or control group (informed just prior to follow-up).



A total of 181 hearing aid recipients ≥60 years (mean age = 79.2 years).



Daily hearing aid use based on datalogging (mean = 6.12 h, SD = 4.94) was significantly less than self-reports (mean = 8.39 h, SD = 5.07). More severe hearing impairment and prior hearing aid experience were associated with increased hearing aid use. Advanced knowledge of the follow-up had no significant impact on use, which did not differ between intervention (n = 93) and control (n = 88) groups.



Elderly people typically use their hearing aids for a substantial part of the day in the 6 months after fitting, but tend to overestimate their usage. Datalogging is recommended to identify those who do not use or rarely use their aids so that appropriate rehabilitation and support can be provided.
a ENT Department , Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital , Oslo , Norway and.
Jorunn
J
Solheim
b School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences , University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia.
Louise
L
Hickson
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010349:Patient Compliance; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
Hearing aids; datalog; self-report