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Investigation of the current supply system for hearing aids at stores in Japan
Kotarou Takayama1, Hajime Sano2, Yuki Hara2
1Department of Rehabilitation, Kawasaki Municipal Hospital, 12-1 Shinkawadori Kawasakiku Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-0013, Japan.
Objective:
This study aimed to examine the status of the supply system for hearing aids at stores in Japan.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional, observational study. We mailed questionnaires to 4502 hearing aid stores in Japan and analyzed the responses.
Results:
Of the 4502 stores, 1032 (23%) responded. Most stores accessed audiogram information and adjusted hearing aids using computer fitting software. Overall, 43% of the stores only used the manufacturer's original prescription formula to adjust the hearing aid, and 47% of stores lacked a device for measuring the frequency response of the hearing aids. Moreover, 20% of the stores lacked both a sound field threshold measurement system and a real-ear measurement device. Objective evaluations, including functional gain, rear-ear insertion gain, and frequency response data, were not performed by 14% stores. Speech-language-hearing therapists were present in only 5.6% stores.
Conclusion:
The findings revealed several key shortcomings in the hearing aid supply system at hearing aid stores in Japan.
