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Background sounds and hearing-aid users: A scoping review.
Brian Gygi1,2, Deborah Ann Hall1,2
1a Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) , Nottingham , UK and.
International Journal of Audiology
|August 14, 2015
Summary
Many hearing aid users find background sounds aversive and interfering. Future research should address methodological limitations to improve hearing aid satisfaction in noisy environments.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Hearing Science
- Speech and Hearing Sciences
Background:
- Background sounds pose challenges for adult hearing aid users, impacting satisfaction and benefit.
- Aversiveness and interference from background noise are significant concerns for individuals with hearing aids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review on background sounds and adult hearing aid users.
- To identify existing knowledge, research gaps, and future research directions regarding hearing aid performance in noise.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of public databases was conducted from 1988 to 2014.
- 75 relevant records were analyzed using content analysis, identifying five main themes.
- Scoping review methodology was employed to synthesize the findings.
Main Results:
- Key themes included outcome instrument development, satisfaction surveys, hearing aid technology and signal processing, acclimatization, and non-auditory factors.
- A significant number of hearing aid users report dissatisfaction with device features in background sound conditions.
- Methodological limitations and diverse outcome measures were noted across studies.
Conclusions:
- Despite technological advancements, many hearing aid users remain dissatisfied with performance in background noise.
- Future research must address study design limitations and standardize outcome measures for more reliable conclusions.
- Controlling for hearing aid fitting parameters is crucial for future research in this area.
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