Severe to profound hearing impairment: factors associated with the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants and participation in extended audiological rehabilitation

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether various demographic variables are associated with hearing aid (HA) and cochlear implant (CI) use and participation in extended audiological rehabilitation among patients with severe to profound hearing loss (HL), and to compare the use of unilateral and bilateral HAs.

Study design: Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to analyze general HA use, binaural HA use, CI use and participation in extended audiological rehabilitation. A total of 2297 adult patients from The Swedish Quality Register of Otorhinolaryngology with a PTA4 (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz) ≥ 70 dB HL in the better ear were included.

Results: The degree of HL was associated with HA and CI use and participation in extended audiological rehabilitation. The patients with at least a college degree were more likely to use bilateral HAs, have a CI and participate in audiological rehabilitation, compared with those with elementary school education. The sex distribution was evenly divided, but the men indicated a lower level of participation in extended audiological rehabilitation. No significant associations where found for sex and HA or CI use.

Conclusion: The degree of HL was the strongest factor associated with the use of HAs, CI and extended audiological rehabilitation among the patients.

Keywords:

• Audiological rehabilitation
• sick leave
• the problem impact rating scale

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank The Swedish Quality Register of Otorhinolaryngology committee for approving the study and supplying the data.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of conflict.

Funding

This study was made possible by research grant from the Center for Rehabilitation Research, Örebro County Council, Örebro, Sweden.