[Analysis of 200 university hospital hearing aid clinic patients]

We statistically studied patients who visited our hearing aid clinic to determine what segment of the population may benefit from hearing aids. Subjects were 200 patients from 5 to 89 years of age who had visited the Hearing Aid Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University Hospital, between January 1998 and March 2000. This clinic lent out hearing aids. Subjects were divided into 2 groups those having their own hearing aids either new or earlier (HA group) and those giving up hearing aids after a trial (non-HA group). Mean better hearing levels in pure tone average were 50.6 dB in the HA group and 44.5 dB in the non-HA group. Mean better maximum speech recognition scores were 81.5% in the HA group and 85.3% in the non-HA group. The distribution of better hearing has shown that patients with mild hearing loss (better pure tone average < 40 dB) account for more than a quarter of all hearing aid clinic patients. Among patients with mild hearing loss, 60% had their own hearing aids. The need for rehabilitation in the mild hearing loss population thus appears large. Their intent to wear hearing aids influenced whether patients agreed or declined hearing aids after a trial. The period from use until patients made a decision was 2 weeks in 65% of those declining use and 35% of those agreeing to use. Over 15% of those agreeing called for a trial period longer than 8 weeks. Hearing aid trials provide useful information for both patients and surgeons before choosing surgery for a difficult ear condition. In this research, 18 patients needed counseling about both amplification and surgery. Bridging between ear surgery and hearing aid wearing is a vital role of hearing aid clinics at university hospitals.