Use and non-use of hearing aids

A hundred and fifty hearing-handicapped were interviewed at home two years after their hearing aids had been fitted. The aim was to find out how many of the delivered aids were in use, and if not, why. A remarkable percentage of the hearing aids were very seldom, if ever, in use (23%), 57% of them were used regularly every day and 19% of the hearing-handicapped used their aids occasionally. The hearing aids were less used if the hearing loss was mild or sensorineural. Behind-the-ear aids were used more regularly than the body-worn aids. The time needed for learning to handle the aid did not affect the amount of use. Very often, despite being satisfied with the instruction, the non-users were not skilled in handling the aid. They also often complained about having little opportunity to converse with others; however, no difference in the amount of social contacts could be shown between the users and non-users. On the basis of the results of this study the policy of our hearing-aid fitting has been revised.