This article is a part of the January/February 2017, Volume 29, Number 1, Audiology Today issue.
Audiologists see a variety of hearing losses, mild sloping to severe, flat, and precipitous. We do not question to recommend amplification for a patient with a moderate hearing loss or a high-frequency, mild-to-severe hearing loss. But what about a mild, high-frequency hearing loss? What determines whether a patient chooses a hearing aid?
Patients with hearing loss often do not pursue amplification until 10 years after they first perceive hearing problems (Davis, 2007). Why do they wait? Is it because they do not perceive a hearing problem? If those patients with mild hearing loss wait to obtain hearing aids, then their hearing loss may worsen. Research has also shown that untreated sensorineural hearing loss and chronic health conditions show a reduction in the health-related quality of life (Chisolm et al, 2007).
In children, mild hearing loss can cause “delayed language, trouble paying attention, [and difficulty] understanding in noise” (Anderson, 2011). But what about adults? Adults with mild hearing loss have “less satisfaction with their independence, reduced emotional well-being, and greater perceived limitation while others show no problems or limitations.” (Timmer, 2014). What causes an adult patient to choose or decline amplification? Is there evidence to show that adults with mild hearing loss benefit from amplification?
Sereda et al (2015) asked audiologists what were important factors in fitting mild hearing losses. Without bothersome tinnitus, the top five factors were patient-reported hearing difficulties, motivation to wear hearing aids, self-reported impact of hearing loss on quality of life, degree of hearing loss, and realistic expectations.
We have all seen patients with the same hearing loss, normal sloping to a mild, high-frequency hearing loss. One patient chooses to obtain hearing aids, while the other patient does not. Why?
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