Optimum side for fitting a monaural hearing aid. 2. Measured benefit.

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Hearing Science
• Speech and Hearing Sciences

Background:

• Hearing aids are crucial assistive devices for individuals with hearing loss.
• Understanding optimal hearing aid placement is essential for maximizing user benefit.
• Subjective preferences for hearing aid use may not always align with objective performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the objective benefit of hearing aid use in the better versus poorer hearing ear.
• To investigate the relationship between subjective ear preference and objective hearing aid benefit.
• To explore the underlying reasons for ear preference in individuals with asymmetrical hearing.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-two subjects with hearing loss participated in an audiovisual test assessing hearing aid benefit.
• Sound source was consistently positioned in front of subjects during initial testing.
• A subset of seven subjects with asymmetrical hearing underwent further auditory testing with varied sound source locations.

Main Results:

• Subjects demonstrated greater objective benefit from hearing aids worn in their better hearing ear.
• Despite this, a significant number of subjects expressed a preference for wearing the aid in their poorer hearing ear.
• Further testing indicated that this preference may stem from a desire to mitigate disadvantages in difficult listening scenarios.

Conclusions:

• Objective audiological benefit from hearing aids is typically greater in the better hearing ear.
• Subjective preferences for hearing aid ear placement can be influenced by a desire to compensate for perceived disadvantages in challenging auditory environments.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering both objective performance and subjective user experience in hearing aid fitting and counseling.