Satisfaction with Hearing Aids Based on Technology and Style among Hearing Impaired Persons

Document Type : Original

Authors

1 Department of Health Services Administration, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

2 Department of Rehabilitation Administration, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre, School of Rehabilitation, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

3 Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation. IUMS Lecturer, Iran Medical Sciences University, Tehran, Iran.

4 Hearing and Speech Research Center, School of Rehabilitation, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction:
Hearing loss is one of the most disabling impairments. Using a hearing aid as an attempt to improve the hearing problem can positively affect the quality of life for these people. This research was aimed to assess satisfaction of hearing impaired patients with their hearing aids regarding the employed technology and style.
 
Materials and Methods:
This descriptive-analytic cross-sectional research was conducted on 187 subjects with hearing loss who were using a hearing aid. The subjects were over 18 years of age and were using a hearing aid for at least 6 months. The Persian version of Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life (SADL) questionnaire was the instrument which was used for assessing satisfaction with the hearing aid. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to be 0.80 for instrument reliability.
 
Results:
A significant difference was observed among satisfaction subscales’ mean scores with hearing aid technology. Also a significant difference was observed between the total satisfaction score and the hearing aid model. With respect to the analysis of satisfaction with the hearing aid and its style, cost and services was the only subscale which showed a significant difference (P=0.005).
 
Conclusion:
Respondents using hearing aids with different technology and style were estimated to be quite satisfied. Training audiologists in using more appropriate and fitting hearing aids in addition to using self-reporting questionnaires like SADL for estimating patients’ social condition and participation in their life can essentially change their disability condition and countervail their hearing loss.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Volume 28, Issue 5
September and October 2016
Pages 321-327

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