Determining unilateral or bilateral hearing aid preference in adults: a prospective study

Abstract

Objective

Despite high rates of bilateral hearing aid fitting globally, a number of adults continue to reject one hearing aid. The current study aimed to identify a clinically suitable tool for determining, pre-fitting, which clients might prefer one hearing aid.

Study Sample: Ninety-five new adult hearing aid candidates, aged 49–87 years, were assessed prior to a first hearing aid fitting. Sixty-eight participants adhered to the prescribed protocol for both bilateral and unilateral hearing aid use.

Design

Performance was assessed on a modified version of the Listening in Spatialised Noise – Sentences test (LiSN-S), the Dichotic Digits difference Test, the Experiential Hearing Aid simulator, and the Grooved Pegboard Test. All participants were fitted bilaterally, but were instructed to alternate between unilateral and bilateral hearing aid use over fourteen weeks post-fitting. Participants’ wearing preferences were assessed via a short questionnaire.

Results

78% of participants expressed an overall preference for bilateral hearing aid use. Only the LiSN-S bilateral advantage test outcomes significantly correlated with overall wearing preference.

Conclusions

Although the LiSN-S bilateral advantage score related to overall wearing preference, the accuracy of the predictor was too low to warrant implementation of this test prior to hearing aid fitting. The current practice of recommending bilateral hearing aid use continues to be the best option for clinicians.

Keywords:

• Binaural interference
• wearing preference
• hearing aids

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the HEARing CRC, established and supported under the Cooperative Research Centres Program. The CRC Program supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. We would also like to acknowledge John Seymour for his assistance with software modifications of the DDdT, and Lauren Burns, Patricia Van Bunder, Katrina Freeston, and Jermy Pang for their assistance with data collection. Harvey Dillon and Helen Glyde acknowledges the support of the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre.

Disclosure statement

The Listening in Spatialised Noise – Sentences Test and the Experiential Hearing Aid Simulation are both licenced products. Financial returns from the sale of these products previously benefitted the National Acoustic Laboratories. This has in no way influenced the research reported in this article.

Notes

1 The 4-frequency average hearing loss refers to the average of thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz.