Evaluating hearing aid handling skills: A systematic and descriptive review

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Rehabilitation
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Effective hearing aid use depends on proper handling skills.
• Existing surveys for hearing aid handling vary in scope and quality.
• Comprehensive evaluation of hearing aid handling is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and appraise existing surveys that evaluate hearing aid handling.
• To identify the strengths and limitations of current assessment tools for hearing aid handling skills.

Main Methods:

• A systematic and descriptive review methodology was employed.
• Twelve surveys containing items on hearing aid handling were identified and analyzed.
• Content and quality of psychometric evaluation were assessed for each survey.

Main Results:

• Fifteen distinct aspects of hearing aid handling were identified across the surveys.
• No single survey comprehensively evaluated all identified handling aspects.
• Psychometric evaluation varied significantly in quality and extent across the reviewed surveys.

Conclusions:

• Currently, no single survey provides a comprehensive evaluation of hearing aid handling skills.
• The Practical Hearing aid Skills Test (clinician-administered) and Hearing aid User's Questionnaire (self-report) are the most inclusive available tools.
• Further research is needed to refine psychometric properties and identify all necessary handling skills for successful hearing aid use, informing clinical practice and training.