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Bilateral amplification for the elderly: are two aids better than one?
1Department of Communicative Disorders, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA. aholmes@hp.ufl.edu
International Journal of Audiology
|August 16, 2003
Summary
Bilateral hearing aids offer benefits like better sound localization for older adults with symmetrical hearing loss. However, unilateral hearing aid use may be preferable in specific cases due to potential disadvantages.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Gerontology
- Hearing Healthcare
Background:
- Review of bilateral versus unilateral hearing aid use for elderly individuals with bilateral symmetric hearing loss.
- Focus on the specific challenges and benefits relevant to the aging population.
Observation:
- Binaural amplification offers advantages such as enhanced sound localization and improved speech recognition in noisy environments for older adults.
- Potential contraindications include binaural interference, cost, cosmetic concerns, and difficulties with hearing aid management.
Findings:
- A case study demonstrated that a unilateral hearing aid fitting was more advantageous for a patient than bilateral amplification.
- Despite potential drawbacks, bilateral amplification is generally recommended for elderly patients with symmetric hearing loss.
Implications:
- Bilateral amplification should be the initial approach for elderly patients with symmetric hearing loss.
- Careful consideration of contraindications is necessary to ensure optimal hearing aid outcomes for older individuals.