Hearing aid use in the elderly as measured by datalogging and self-report

Abstract

Objectives: The primary aim was to compare the objective and the subjective assessments of hearing aid use among elderly people at a 6-month follow-up after fitting. A secondary aim was to determine whether advanced knowledge of follow-up impacts hearing aid use.

Design: Hearing aid use was assessed by datalogging (objective) and self-report (subjective) 6 months after initial fitting. Participants were also randomised to an intervention (informed of 6-month follow-up at fitting) or control group (informed just prior to follow-up).

Study sample: A total of 181 hearing aid recipients ≥60 years (mean age = 79.2 years).

Results: Daily hearing aid use based on datalogging (mean = 6.12 h, SD = 4.94) was significantly less than self-reports (mean = 8.39 h, SD = 5.07). More severe hearing impairment and prior hearing aid experience were associated with increased hearing aid use. Advanced knowledge of the follow-up had no significant impact on use, which did not differ between intervention (n = 93) and control (n = 88) groups.

Conclusions: Elderly people typically use their hearing aids for a substantial part of the day in the 6 months after fitting, but tend to overestimate their usage. Datalogging is recommended to identify those who do not use or rarely use their aids so that appropriate rehabilitation and support can be provided.

Keywords: Hearing aids; datalog; self-report.