Assessment of subjective outcome of hearing aid fitting: getting the client's point of view

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the measurement of hearing aid fitting outcomes in real life using self-report methods. Three topics are addressed: (1) why we should measure real-life outcomes; (2) seven different types of self-report outcome data; and (3) issues to consider in self-report outcome measurement. It is stressed that self-report data provide a unique view of the way that clients function and feel in their daily lives with regard to their hearing health. Self-report outcome data are multidimensional, and the different domains are only moderately correlated. When these types of data are gathered, it is essential to control relevant variables to safeguard validity and reliability.