Improved Speech Recognition in Adults With Conductive or Mixed Hearing Loss Using a Direct-to-Consumer...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Public Health

Background:

• Hearing loss impacts 20% of the global population, with 250 million affected by chronic suppurative otitis media.
• Conventional hearing aids are challenging for individuals with ear discharge.
• Assistive hearing technology is scarce in low-income settings due to cost and limited audiology services, reaching only 3% of those in need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of a low-cost, self-fitted, direct-to-consumer bone-conduction headset.
• To assess its efficacy and acceptability for individuals with conductive or mixed hearing loss.

Main Methods:

• A multiple methods study was conducted with a purposive sample.
• Participants underwent speech audiometry with and without the device.
• Feedback interviews explored subjective impressions of the device's usability and aesthetics.

Main Results:

• The device improved speech recognition by a median of 11% in participants with bone conduction thresholds <50 dB.
• A larger air-bone gap correlated with greater improvement in speech perception.
• Participants positively rated the device's weight, style, and ease of use, though aesthetics received mixed reviews.

Conclusions:

• The low-cost bone-conduction device offers significant hearing benefits for adults with conductive or mixed hearing loss (bone conduction thresholds <50 dB HL).
• This self-fitted technology could be a paradigm shift for hearing assistive devices in both high- and low-resource settings.
• Further research is needed to establish real-world effectiveness and identify optimal candidates for this technology.