Journal article
Toward a New Evidence-Based Fitting Paradigm for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
American journal of audiology, Vol.30(1), pp.43-66
03/10/2021
DOI: 10.1044/2020_AJA-20-00085
PMCID: PMC8632515
PMID: 33264578
Abstract
Purpose This dual-aim study was intended to develop and validate a new fitting paradigm for over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. Aim 1 was undertaken to create a limited set of evidence-based preconfigured gain-frequency responses ("presets") for use in OTC devices. Aim 2 tested the efficacy of the presets relative to best-practice verification and determined the best method(s) for older adults to self-select amplification from the set. Method In Aim 1, audiometry data from 267 older adults with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. Using these data and the National Acoustic Laboratories-Non-Linear 2 (NAL-NL2) prescriptive formula, a set of four presets were created that can fit a large percentage of older Americans with presbycusis. In Aim 2, 37 older adults with hearing loss used five methods to select presets. The selection methods were select-by-audiogram, select-by-self-test, select-by-trying, select-by-questionnaire, and random assignment. Using a crossover design, each participant completed speech recognition testing and sound quality ratings in quiet and noise for all selection methods and a verified NAL-NL2 condition. Results The set of presets can fit 67.9% of older Americans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss (Aim 1). Controlling for hearing thresholds and sound quality ratings, liner mixed-effects models indicated that speech recognition scores for select-by-audiogram, select-by-self-test, and select-by-trying were not statistically different from the NAL-NL2 condition. Statistical analysis indicated that select-by-self-test produced outcomes most consistent with individual outcomes for the NAL-NL2 condition (Aim 2). Conclusion This newly developed fitting paradigm may provide efficacy comparable to best-practice verification and could be used in OTC hearing aids.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Toward a New Evidence-Based Fitting Paradigm for Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids
- Creators
- Dana Urbanski - Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Iowa, Iowa CityHelin Hernandez - Department of Biostatistics, The University of Iowa, Iowa CityJacob Oleson - Department of Biostatistics, The University of Iowa, Iowa CityYu-Hsiang Wu - Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Iowa, Iowa City
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American journal of audiology, Vol.30(1), pp.43-66
- DOI
- 10.1044/2020_AJA-20-00085
- PMID
- 33264578
- PMCID
- PMC8632515
- ISSN
- 1059-0889
- eISSN
- 1558-9137
- Grant note
- R01 DC015997 / NIDCD NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/10/2021
- Academic Unit
- Communication Sciences and Disorders; Biostatistics
- Record Identifier
- 9984214826102771
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