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Abstract
Objectives: The aims of the study were to assess hearing-aid uptake in patients with otosclerosis 28–30 years after stapedectomy and to evaluate hearing-aid benefit to users. Design: A retrospective study was performed; it included a review of medical records and follow-up 28–30 years after surgery, including audiometry, clinical examination, structured interview, and a validated questionnaire, IOI-HA. Study sample: Sixty-five patients, who had undergone stapedectomy at a tertiary referral center in 1977-79. Results: In 95% of the subjects there was a theoretical need for hearing-aid amplification at follow-up; 46% of the subjects had no hearing aids, while 26% had unilateral and 28% bilateral hearing aids. Hearing sensitivity in the best ear predicted hearing-aid uptake. Of the subjects with a hearing aid, 94% were everyday users and 54% were full-time users (> 8 hours/day). The subjects reported a high level of satisfaction (mean 4.5) and benefit (mean 4.2), but also residual activity limitations (mean 3.1). Conclusions: The study shows that there is an unmet need for long-term hearing rehabilitation among patients previously undergoing surgery for otosclerosis. The patients who were using hearing aids were generally very satisfied with their hearing aids, but they still reported residual activity limitations.
Acknowledgements
We wish to express our gratitude to Helena Johansson, PhD, statistician, Kristina Bjornham, Margareta Magnusson, Ann Christine Hermansson, Eivor Pålsson, Jonas Carlsson, and Camilla Johansson for their work and support of the study.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no declaration of interest.
This work was supported by the Gothenburg Medical Society Research Fund, the Amlöv Foundation and the Swedish ACTA Foundation, the Audiological Research Centre at Örebro University Hospital, and the Swedish Association of Hard of Hearing People Research Foundation.