In-the-canal hearing aids. Their use by and benefit for the younger and elderly hearing-impaired

The present investigation was performed in order to evaluate the use and benefit of in-the-canal hearing aids (ITC-HAs; Dan 131) in a group of elderly and younger subjects. An extensive questionnaire was mailed to 256 hearing aid users. The responding group comprised 220 subjects (86%) and consisted of 108 males and 112 females with a median age of 69 years, range 11-89. In order to compare between the elderly and the younger subjects, the material was subdivided into two groups: one less than 70 years (n = 113), and the other greater than or equal to 70 years (n = 107). The median values of the average threshold at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz for the right and/or left ear (which was fitted with hearing aid(s] was 43 dB HL, thus indicating a moderate hearing loss. The questionnaires demonstrated that 74% of the subjects used their ITC-HA every day, 28% used the aid very seldom and only 1% never used the hearing-aid. 74% of the total sample were satisfied or very satisfied with the ITC-HA, while 19% were not entirely satisfied or dissatisfied. No significant differences between the elderly and the younger groups were found concerning time-related use, situational use, self-assessed effect, or general satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the aid. The elderly found the aid significantly more troublesome to deal with. It is concluded that hearing-impaired subjects with moderate hearing losses use and benefit from ITA-HAs, regardless of age. However, a ITC-HA should be recommended for the elderly only if they can be offered thorough individual instruction.