The time course of adaptation to hearing aid use

Adaptation to use of a hearing aid will depend on many factors, such as the degree of the loss, the age and personality of the individual, the duration of the loss, the performance of the aid, and the advice given by the audiologist/dispenser. This study investigated the use made of hearing aids by monitoring battery consumption over a one year period commencing at the first provision of amplification. A further investigation into use was made 10 years after the initial issue. Patterns of use over the first year were investigated and related, where possible, to the level of use 10 years later. About one-third of the subjects made little or no use of the behind-the-ear hearing aid provided free of direct cost through the National Health Service over the first year. A small proportion, primarily younger subjects, later increased their use of personal amplification to substantial levels. The majority, who tended to be at the upper end of the age range, did not. A similar proportion (one-third) started with limited use and progressed during the initial period of monitoring to more extended use. In some individuals the rate of progress was gradual. In others the transition from low to high use took place over a short period of time but after an interval ranging from a few weeks to many months. About one-sixth of the group used the aid extensively from the beginning and continued at this use level through to the long-term review. The final sixth, who tended to be towards the upper end of the age range, made only minimal use of their aids. Short-term (less than 6 months) assessment of use may, in the case of good users, be regarded as a measure of success, but if use is low at that time the long-term outcome may depend substantially on the age of the hearing aid user.