Comparison of hearing aid outcome measures in adult hearing aid users

Abstract

Hearing aid outcome measures have become an essential part of audiological intervention. This study aimed at exploring hearing aid benefit in Maltese hearing aid users through subjective and objective outcome measures. The PIBHA, a translated version of the APHAB questionnaire was used to examine subjective hearing aid benefit in 56 adult hearing aid users falling in the 20-60 age range. Twenty nine of these hearing aid users subsequently participated in two clinical tests to evaluate hearing aid benefit objectively. Real ear measurements and two non-word repetition tests; the Maltese Non Words in Quiet and the Maltese Non Words in Noise, were used in the study. Analysis aimed at identifying which factors are related to hearing aid benefit and to explore to what extent subjective perception of hearing aid benefit correlates with performance in non-word repetition testing and real ear measurements. Daily use was associated with gender and hearing aid type: Non-word repetition scores were correlated with scores on the PIBHA and with real ear measurements. Real ear measurements were not correlated to the self-report, PIBHA. Implications for including both subjective and objective measures in hearing aid fitting protocols are addressed.