Hearing aids for adults benefits and costs
The reasons most frequently given for not using hearing aids are that they do not provide sufficient benefit, particularly in environments with disturbing background noise, and also that using the device embarrasses the user (poor scientific evidence).8. An estimated 58,000 people aged 18 years and...
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
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Stockholm
Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment (SBU)
2003, May 2003
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| Series: | Report
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| Online Access: | |
| Collection: | National Center for Biotechnology Information - Collection details see MPG.ReNa |
| Summary: | The reasons most frequently given for not using hearing aids are that they do not provide sufficient benefit, particularly in environments with disturbing background noise, and also that using the device embarrasses the user (poor scientific evidence).8. An estimated 58,000 people aged 18 years and older received hearing aids in Sweden during 2002. Of this total, 39,000 received a hearing aid in one ear and 19,000 received hearing aids in both ears. During the year, hearing centers purchased 77,500 hearing devices. There are wide variations among county councils as regards the number of hearing aids purchased per inhabitant and the type of device. Since we have no information on the degree of hearing loss and functional impairment in those receiving hearing aids, it is not possible to draw any conclusions concerning the volume which best corresponds to the need.9. The need for further scientific studies is substantial. The most pressing research questions include:1.1. There is insufficient evidence to assess the risk that hearing aids may cause hearing impairment in severe cases if appropriate routines are followed (poor scientific evidence).4. In comparisons between older, less complex types of signal processing (linear hearing aids) and more advanced signal processing (non-linear hearing aids), no significant differences have been demonstrated in speech testing in a laboratory setting (fair / moderate scientific evidence). Several studies, however, show the advantages of non-linear hearing aids in regard to sound quality and benefits in daily life, according to users (fair / moderate scientific evidence).5. In recent years, there has been a shift from analog to digital technology in hearing aid amplification. There is no evidence that hearing aids with digital amplification are superior to modern hearing aids using analog amplification (fair /moderate scientific evidence). Hearing aids usually use an omnidirectional microphone, but they can also be equipped with a directional microphone. Some users notice the difference, and use a directional-microphone device in noisy environments while they often prefer omnidirectional microphones in quieter environments (poor scientific evidence).6. Acoustic and hearing physiology factors suggest that two hearing aids may be superior to one in people with hearing loss in both ears. However, no clinical trials have shown that two hearing aids are superior to one hearing aid in the user's daily life situation (poor scientific evidence).7. Approximately 560,000 adults are estimated to have a sufficient degree of hearing loss to derive benefit from a hearing instrument. Approximately 270,000 people have hearing aids. Slightly more than half of this group report that they use their hearing aid "often" or "always" (poor scientific evidence). In what way can hearing aids help improve speech comprehension in noisy environments?1.2. How great are the benefits of hearing aids at various levels of hearing loss?1.3. When does the need to hear become strong enough for a person to use a hearing aid?1.4. Are the benefits of using two hearing aids, in the user's daily life situations, superior to the benefits of using a single device? 1. An estimated 1.2 million people in Sweden aged 18 years and older have mild hearing loss, 495,000 have moderate hearing loss, and 120,000 have severe or profound hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss increases rapidly at age 50 years and older. Of those in Sweden with moderate to profound hearing loss, somewhat over 400,000 are aged 70 years and older. There is no obvious difference between women and men as regards the prevalence of hearing impairment (good scientific evidence).2. Hearing aids mainly benefit those with moderate to severe hearing loss (good scientific evidence). Hearing aids amplify sound and can improve the user's ability to understand speech, even in noisy environments, but they do not provide normal hearing (good scientific evidence).3. With mild and moderate hearing loss, there is no risk that hearing aids cause permanent hearing loss if appropriate fitting routines are followed. |
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| Physical Description: | 1 PDF file (14 pages) |
| ISBN: | 9187890852 |