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Objective assessment of hearing aid use
E M Mäki-Torkko1, M J Sorr, E Laukli
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Lund, Sweden. elina.maki-torkko@skane.se
Scandinavian Audiology. Supplementum
|April 25, 2001
Summary
Objective hearing aid use assessment is crucial. Subjective methods like interviews and diaries often overestimate actual hearing aid usage, highlighting the need for validation.
Area of Science:
- Audiology and Hearing Science
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Accurate assessment of hearing aid usage is vital for evaluating treatment effectiveness and patient adherence.
- Traditional subjective methods (interviews, diaries) may not accurately reflect real-world hearing aid use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare objective (hearing aid memory data) and subjective (interview, patient diary) methods for assessing hearing aid use in adult candidates.
- To determine the reliability of subjective reports versus objective data in a clinical setting.
Main Methods:
- A clinical series of 84 adult Finnish and Norwegian hearing aid candidates participated.
- Hearing aid usage was measured objectively via device memory and subjectively through interviews and patient diaries.
- Study duration ranged from 21 to 73 days, with a median of 34 days.
Main Results:
- Objective assessment revealed over one-third of participants used hearing aids for less than 4 hours daily.
- Both interview and patient diary methods tended to overestimate actual hearing aid usage.
- Significant discrepancies were observed between objective and subjective usage data.
Conclusions:
- Objective assessment of hearing aid use is essential for accurate data collection.
- Subjective methods for evaluating hearing aid use require validation against objective measures.
- This preliminary study underscores the importance of reliable usage data in audiological practice.