Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of demographic, audiologic, and hearing-aid-related variables on the outcomes of using hearing aids

  • Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the influence of demographic, audiologic, and hearing-aid (HA)-related variables on HA outcomes.

Methods

In total, 235 adults with hearing loss (HL) who used HAs for at least 3 months were included in the study, and completed audiologic tests and the Chinese version of the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA). Spearman correlation analysis and Wilcoxon test were conducted to identify factors related to IOI-HA overall and subscales scores. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was subsequently performed to determine the influence of factors on HA outcomes.

Results

Age, daily use time, HA price, pure tone average (PTA) threshold, word recognition score (WRS), fitting (bilateral or unilateral), and HA style were associated with IOI-HA overall and subscales scores. However, only WRS, daily HA use time, HA price, and age entered the final regression model and were factors determining HA outcomes.

Conclusions

HA outcome is a multi-dimensional construct. In this study, WRS had the greatest influence on HA outcomes and seemed to be a primary predictor. Thus, HA owners with a higher WRS before HA fitting may indicate better satisfaction. Daily use time, HA price, and patient age also made significant contributions to HA outcomes and should be considered in clinical practice to facilitate auditory rehabilitation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Details are shown in the legend of Fig. 1.

References

  1. Laplante-Lévesque A, Hickson L, Worrall L (2010) Rehabilitation of older adults with hearing impairment: a critical review. J Aging Health 22:143–153. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264309352731

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Panza F, Solfrizzi V, Logroscino G (2015) Age-related hearing impairment-a risk factor and frailty marker for dementia and AD. Nat Rev Neurol 11:166–175. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2015.12

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lopez-Poveda EA, Johannesen PT, Pérez-González P, Blanco JL, Kalluri S, Edwards B (2017) Predictors of hearing-aid outcomes. Trends Hear 21:1–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216517730526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Davis A (2003) Population study of the ability to benefit from amplification and the provision of a hearing aid in 55–74-year-old first-time hearing aid users. Int J Audiol 42(Suppl 2:2s):39–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Chang HP, Chou P (2007) Presbycusis among older Chinese people in Taipei, Taiwan: a community-based study. Int J Audiol 46:738–745. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992020701558529

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Chien W, Lin FR (2012) Prevalence of hearing aid use among older adults in the United States. Arch Intern Med 172:292–293. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.1408

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Meister H, Rählmann S, Walger M, Margolf-Hackl S, Kießling J (2015) Hearing aid fitting in older persons with hearing impairment: the influence of cognitive function, age, and hearing loss on hearing aid benefit. Clin Interv Aging 10:435–443. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.S77096

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Moon IJ, Baek SY, Cho YS (2015) Hearing aid use and associated factors in South Korea. Medicine (Baltimore) 94:e1580. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000001580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Hartley D, Rochtchina E, Newall P, Golding M, Mitchell P (2010) Use of hearing AIDS and assistive listening devices in an older Australian population. J Am Acad Audiol 21:642–653. https://doi.org/10.3766/jaaa.21.10.4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Knudsen LV, Oberg M, Nielsen C, Naylor G, Kramer SE (2010) Factors influencing help seeking, hearing aid uptake, hearing aid use and satisfaction with hearing aids: a review of the literature. Trends Amplif 14:127–154. https://doi.org/10.1177/1084713810385712

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Williams VA, Johnson CE, Danhauer JL (2009) Hearing aid outcomes: effects of gender and experience on patients’ use and satisfaction. J Am Acad Audiol 20:422–432. https://doi.org/10.3766/jaaa.20.7.4 (quiz 459–460)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Humes LE, Rogers SE, Quigley TM, Main AK, Kinney DL, Herring C (2017) The effects of service-delivery model and purchase price on hearing-aid outcomes in older adults: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Am J Audiol 26:53–79. https://doi.org/10.1044/2017_aja-16-0111

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Kaplan-Neeman R, Muchnik C, Hildesheimer M, Henkin Y (2012) Hearing aid satisfaction and use in the advanced digital era. Laryngoscope 122:2029–2036. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.23404

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Korkmaz MH, Bayır Ö, Er S, Işık E, Saylam G, Tatar E, Özdek A (2016) Satisfaction and compliance of adult patients using hearing aid and evaluation of factors affecting them. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 273:3723–3732. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-016-4046-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Saunders GH, Jutai JW (2004) Hearing specific and generic measures of the psychosocial impact of hearing aids. J Am Acad Audiol 15:238–248. https://doi.org/10.3766/jaaa.15.3.6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hickson L, Meyer C, Lovelock K, Lampert M, Khan A (2014) Factors associated with success with hearing aids in older adults. Int J Audiol 53(Suppl 1):S18-27. https://doi.org/10.3109/14992027.2013.860488

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Hickson L, Clutterbuck S, Khan A (2010) Factors associated with hearing aid fitting outcomes on the IOI-HA. Int J Audiol 49:586–595. https://doi.org/10.3109/14992021003777259

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wu X, Ren Y, Wang Q, Li B, Wu H, Huang Z, Wang X (2019) Factors associated with the efficiency of hearing aids for patients with age-related hearing loss. Clin Interv Aging 14:485–492. https://doi.org/10.2147/cia.S190651

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Wilson C, Stephens D (2003) Reasons for referral and attitudes toward hearing aids: do they affect outcome? Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 28:81–84. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2273.2003.00669.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Chang YS, Choi J, Moon IJ, Hong SH, Chung WH, Cho YS (2016) Factors associated with self-reported outcome in adaptation of hearing aid. Acta Otolaryngol 136:905–911. https://doi.org/10.3109/00016489.2016.1170201

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Chang WH, Tseng HC, Chao TK, Hsu CJ, Liu TC (2008) Measurement of hearing aid outcome in the elderly: comparison between young and old elderly. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 138:730–734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otohns.2008.02.012

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Cox RM, Alexander GC (2002) The International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA): psychometric properties of the English version. Int J Audiol 41:30–35. https://doi.org/10.3109/14992020209101309

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Liu H, Zhang H, Liu S, Chen X, Han D, Zhang L (2011) International outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA): results from the Chinese version. Int J Audiol 50:673–678. https://doi.org/10.3109/14992027.2011.588966

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Cox RM, Alexander GC, Gray GA (2007) Personality, hearing problems, and amplification characteristics: contributions to self-report hearing aid outcomes. Ear Hear 28:141–162. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0b013e31803126a4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Bertoli S, Bodmer D, Probst R (2010) Survey on hearing aid outcome in Switzerland: associations with type of fitting (bilateral/unilateral), level of hearing aid signal processing, and hearing loss. Int J Audiol 49:333–346. https://doi.org/10.3109/14992020903473431

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Gallagher NE, Woodside JV (2018) Factors affecting hearing aid adoption and use: a qualitative study. J Am Acad Audiol 29:300–312. https://doi.org/10.3766/jaaa.16148

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Convery E, Hickson L, Meyer C, Keidser G (2019) Predictors of hearing loss self-management in older adults. Disabil Rehabil 41:2026–2035. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2018.1457091

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Picou EM (2020) MarkeTrak 10 (MT10) survey results demonstrate high satisfaction with and benefits from hearing aids. Semin Hear 41:21–36. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1701243

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Baiduc RR, Poling GL, Hong O, Dhar S (2013) Clinical measures of auditory function: the cochlea and beyond. Dis Mon 59:147–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2013.01.005

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Demeester K, van Wieringen A, Hendrickx JJ, Topsakal V, Fransen E, van Laer L, Van Camp G, Van de Heyning P (2009) Audiometric shape and presbycusis. Int J Audiol 48:222–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992020802441799

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Leijon A, Dillon H, Hickson L, Kinkel M, Kramer SE, Nordqvist P (2021) Analysis of data from the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) using Bayesian Item Response Theory. Int J Audiol 60:81–88. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2020.1813338

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Cohen J (1992) A power primer. Psychol Bull 112:155–159. https://doi.org/10.1037//0033-2909.112.1.155

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Jerger J, Jerger S, Oliver T, Pirozzolo F (1989) Speech understanding in the elderly. Ear Hear 10:79–89. https://doi.org/10.1097/00003446-198904000-00001

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Stach BA, Spretnjak ML, Jerger J (1990) The prevalence of central presbyacusis in a clinical population. J Am Acad Audiol 1:109–115

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Dörfler C, Hocke T, Hast A, Hoppe U (2020) Speech recognition with hearing aids for 10 standard audiograms: English version. HNO 68:93–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00106-020-00843-y

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Wong LL, Hickson L, McPherson B (2003) Hearing aid satisfaction: what does research from the past 20 years say? Trends Amplif 7:117–161. https://doi.org/10.1177/108471380300700402

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Gilliver M, Hickson L (2011) Medical practitioners’ attitudes to hearing rehabilitation for older adults. Int J Audiol 50:850–856. https://doi.org/10.3109/14992027.2011.601468

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Meyer C, Hickson L, Lovelock K, Lampert M, Khan A (2014) An investigation of factors that influence help-seeking for hearing impairment in older adults. Int J Audiol 53(Suppl 1):S3-17. https://doi.org/10.3109/14992027.2013.839888

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Lupsakko TA, Kautiainen HJ, Sulkava R (2005) The non-use of hearing aids in people aged 75 years and over in the city of Kuopio in Finland. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 262:165–169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-004-0789-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was supported by the Achievement Transformation Project of West China Hospital (No. HX20200680).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hearing Center/Hearing and Speech Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guo Xue Lane, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    Xunyi Wang, Yun Zheng, Jingzhe Lu, Zhiyuan Cui & Zhen Li

  2. Statistics with Data Science, School of Mathematics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Yiran Liu

Authors
  1. Xunyi Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yun Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yiran Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jingzhe Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhiyuan Cui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zhen Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by JL, ZC, and ZL. Data analysis was completed by XW and YL. The first draft of the manuscript was written by XW and YZ commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yun Zheng.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Biomedical Ethics Committee of West China Hospital of Sichuan University (approval number: 2020(525)) and performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Informed consent

All participants provided written informed consent for their participation.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, X., Zheng, Y., Liu, Y. et al. Effects of demographic, audiologic, and hearing-aid-related variables on the outcomes of using hearing aids. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 279, 3857–3865 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-07126-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-07126-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation