Self-reported disability and handicap after hearing-aid Wtting and beneWt of hearing aids: comparison of Wtting procedures, degree of hearing loss, experience with hearing aids and uni- and bilateral Wttings

Self-reported outcome on hearing disability and handicap as well as overall health-related quality of life were measured after hearing-aid Wtting in a large-scale clinical population. Fitting was performed according to two diVerent procedures in a double-blind study design. We used a comparative procedure based on optimizing speech intelligibility scores and a strictly implemented Wtting formula. Hearing disability and handicap were assessed with the hearing handicap and disability inventory and beneWt of hearing aids with the abbreviated proWle of hearing aid beneWt. EVects on health-related quality of life and depression were assessed with the EuroQol-5D questionnaire and the geriatric depression scale. We found that hearing-aid Wtting according to either procedure had a signiWcantly positive eVect on disability and handicap associated with hearing loss. This eVect lasted for several months. Only the eVect on disability persisted after 1-year of follow-up. Selfreported beneWt from hearing aids was comparable for both Wtting procedures. Unaided hearing disability was more pronounced in groups of participants with greater hearing loss, while the beneWt of hearing aids was independent from the degree of hearing impairment. First-time hearing aid users reported greater beneWt from their hearing aids. The added value from a bilateral hearing-aid Wtting was not signiWcant. Overall health-related quality of life and incidence of depression did not alter after hearing-aid Wtting.