Pre-issue assessment and counselling as a component of hearing-aid provision

Historically hearing-aid uptake and use in the United Kingdom has been poor. One contributory factor is believed to have been lack of basic knowledge about hearing loss and the benefits and problems of amplification. The scheme operating in South Manchester is described, wherein potential hearing aid users receive counselling both before and after the provision of the aid. The pre-fitting interview is partly for assessment purposes--determining the communication problems of the individual and family in order that the most appropriate assistance can be provided--and partly for counselling purposes, including attitude modification (if appropriate) and development of realistic expectations. The post-fitting counselling utilizes selected and trained volunteers who visit hearing-aids users in their homes at carefully chosen intervals. Additionally the great majority (95%) of hearing-aid users are reviewed by the Hearing Therapist at the Clinic about 1 month after issue. Evidence from Studies carried out in Manchester suggest that such a service considerably increases both use of and satisfaction with hearing aids.