Provision, perception and use of trainable hearing aids in Australia: a survey of clinicians and hearing impaired adults

Abstract

Objective: This study set out to obtain information on the impact of trainable hearing aids among clinicians and hearing aid users and candidates. Design: Two online adaptive surveys were developed to evaluate provision, uptake and experience or expectation of trainable hearing aids. Study sample: Responses from 259 clinicians, 81 hearing aid users and 23 candidates for hearing aids were included. Results: Over half of the clinicians surveyed activated trainable features in hearing aids. Most of these clinicians activated trainable features for selected users and reported positive findings. Most commonly trainable features were not activated because the hearing aid controls had already been disabled for management or client preference. One-third reported that they had no access to trainable aids or they were unsure about the presence or activation of trainable features. The remaining clinicians never activated trainable features. One in five users reported having used trainable aids and 93% would train again. Over 85% of the remaining hearing-impaired adults were interested in trainable aids.

Conclusions: Positive reports from most providers and users who had experience with the trainable feature support the provision of trainable aids to selected clients, pending more evidence-based data to support the clinical management of such devices.

Key Words:

• Trainable hearing aid
• survey
• provider
• hearing impairment

Acknowledgements

This work was conducted by the HEARing CRC, established and funded through the Cooperative Research Centres Program – Business Australia. The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Australian Government through the Department of Health. We would like to thank Audiology Australia, the Australian College of Audiology, the Hearing Aid Audiometrist Society of Australia, Australian Hearing and Neurosensory for their recruitment effort and their members and clients for their participation.

Part of the findings were presented at the Postgraduate Research Conference entitled Perception and use of trainable hearing aids by clinicians and hearing aid users and candidates, 25 November 2015, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.

Declaration of interest

The second author is a co-author of the patent on trainable hearing aids but has no personal financial gain from the patent. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.