The effect of hearing aid treatment on health-related quality of life in older adults with hearing loss

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effect of hearing aid (HA) intervention on long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes in first-time and experienced HA users using the 15D questionnaire. Secondly, the study explored the relationship between clinical parameters and changes in 15D scores.

Design

A prospective observational study.

Study sample

The study population included 1562 patients (1113 first-time and 449 experienced HA users) referred for HA rehabilitation. All patients responded to the 15D at baseline, two months after HA fitting, and at long-term follow-up (698 ± 298 d).

Results

Among both first-time and experienced HA users, significant improvements in hearing-dimension (15D-3) score were observed at two-month follow-up which sustained at long-term follow-up. 15D total scores significantly decreased at long-term follow-up. Self-reported hearing abilities, word recognition scores, and HA use time were significantly and positively correlated to increased 15D.

Conclusions

Both groups of HA users reported improved hearing-related QoL after HA treatment which sustained at long-term follow-up but the improvement in total 15D total score did not sustain for either group. The results suggest that HA intervention positively affects hearing-related QoL among older adults with hearing loss, and the findings support the use of 15D as a tool for the evaluation of HA treatment effects.

Keywords:

• health-related quality of life
• 15D
• hearing loss
• hearing aid rehabilitation
• older adults
• aging
• adult or general hearing screening
• hearing aids
• conditions/pathology/disorders

Acknowledgements

Collaboration and support by Innovation Fund Denmark (Grand Solutions 5164-00011B), Oticon, GN Hearing, Widex-Sivantos Audiology, and other partners (Aalborg University Hospital, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Aalborg University, Technical University of Denmark, FORCE Technology, and Copenhagen University Hospital) are sincerely acknowledged. The authors would like to give special thanks to the study participants and the staff at the Departments of Audiology at AAUH and OUH. Also, thanks to Harri Sintonen for his support in using the 15D questionnaire.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Innovationsfonden Grand Solutions [5164-00011B].