Initial High-Frequency Amplification Accuracy Predicts Long-Term Hearing Aid Fitting Outcomes: A Real Ear...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Hearing Science
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Assessing the link between initial hearing aid amplification accuracy and long-term fitting success.
• Identifying specific sound frequencies that predict sustained fitting precision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if initial real ear measurement (REM) accuracy predicts hearing aid fitting outcomes after one year.
• To identify frequency-specific predictors for long-term fitting precision.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 426 ears from 269 patients with initial and repeat REM.
• Primary outcome: difference between real ear insertion gain (REIG) and target gain (TG) at one-year follow-up.
• Multivariable linear regression to identify predictors of fitting accuracy.

Main Results:

• Initial fitting showed increasing REIG-TG discrepancy towards higher frequencies, peaking at 6000 Hz (16.2 ± 9.5 dB).
• Initial REM discrepancy at 6000 Hz was the strongest predictor of poorer one-year fitting accuracy (B = 0.129, p < 0.001).
• Higher aided thresholds and poorer word recognition scores correlated with less accurate long-term outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Initial amplification accuracy, especially at high frequencies, is crucial for long-term hearing aid fitting stability.
• Optimizing gain at 6000 Hz during initial fitting may enhance long-term outcomes and reduce suboptimal hearing aid use.