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Frisby C, Oosthuizen I, Manchaiah V, Swanepoel DW. Hearing help-seeking, hearing device uptake and hearing health outcomes in individuals with subclinical hearing loss: a systematic review. Int J Audiol 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38375662 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2311660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to examine the current literature on help-seeking, hearing device uptake, and hearing health outcomes in individuals with subclinical hearing loss. DESIGN Systematic review. STUDY SAMPLE Searches of three databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE (PubMed), and Scopus) yielded nine studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The quality of the included studies was determined using the National Institute of Health quality assessment tool. The studies' level of evidence was determined according to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. RESULTS All included studies involved adult participants. Three studies examined help-seeking. Self-reported difficulty, poor speech-in-noise performance, and emotional responses to the hearing difficulty were identified as factors influencing help-seeking. Six studies examined the use of hearing devices as an intervention, including hearing aids (n = 4), hearables (n = 1), and FM systems (n = 1). Using hearing devices improved self-perceived hearing difficulty, speech-in-noise understanding, and motivation to address hearing difficulties. No studies focused on hearing device uptake. The quality assessment indicated limited methodological rigour across the studies, with varying levels of evidence. CONCLUSIONS Current evidence supports the use of hearing devices as an intervention for individuals with subclinical hearing loss. However, more research is essential, particularly focusing on help-seeking, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcomes using well-controlled study designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Frisby
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative between the University of Colorado and the University of Pretoria, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ilze Oosthuizen
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative between the University of Colorado and the University of Pretoria, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Vinaya Manchaiah
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative between the University of Colorado and the University of Pretoria, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- UCHealth Hearing and Balance, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Speech and Hearing, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India
| | - De Wet Swanepoel
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
- Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative between the University of Colorado and the University of Pretoria, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Australia
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Best V, Roverud E. Externalization of Speech When Listening With Hearing Aids. Trends Hear 2024; 28:23312165241229572. [PMID: 38347733 PMCID: PMC10865954 DOI: 10.1177/23312165241229572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Subjective reports indicate that hearing aids can disrupt sound externalization and/or reduce the perceived distance of sounds. Here we conducted an experiment to explore this phenomenon and to quantify how frequently it occurs for different hearing-aid styles. Of particular interest were the effects of microphone position (behind the ear vs. in the ear) and dome type (closed vs. open). Participants were young adults with normal hearing or with bilateral hearing loss, who were fitted with hearing aids that allowed variations in the microphone position and the dome type. They were seated in a large sound-treated booth and presented with monosyllabic words from loudspeakers at a distance of 1.5 m. Their task was to rate the perceived externalization of each word using a rating scale that ranged from 10 (at the loudspeaker in front) to 0 (in the head) to -10 (behind the listener). On average, compared to unaided listening, hearing aids tended to reduce perceived distance and lead to more in-the-head responses. This was especially true for closed domes in combination with behind-the-ear microphones. The behavioral data along with acoustical recordings made in the ear canals of a manikin suggest that increased low-frequency ear-canal levels (with closed domes) and ambiguous spatial cues (with behind-the-ear microphones) may both contribute to breakdowns of externalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Best
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Elin Roverud
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Mealings K, Valderrama JT, Mejia J, Yeend I, Beach EF, Edwards B. Hearing Aids Reduce Self-Perceived Difficulties in Noise for Listeners With Normal Audiograms. Ear Hear 2024; 45:151-163. [PMID: 37553897 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study assessed hearing aid benefits for people with a normal audiogram but hearing-in-noise problems in everyday listening situations. DESIGN Exploratory double-blinded case-control study whereby participants completed retrospective questionnaires, ecological momentary assessments, speech-in-noise testing, and mental effort testing with and without hearing aids. Twenty-seven adults reporting speech-in-noise problems but normal air conduction pure-tone audiometry took part in the study. They were randomly separated into an experimental group that trialed mild-gain hearing aids with advanced directional processing and a control group fitted with hearing aids with no gain or directionality. RESULTS Self-reports showed mild-gain hearing aids reduce hearing-in-noise difficulties and provide a better hearing experience (i.e., improved understanding, participation, and mood). Despite the self-reported benefits, the laboratory tests did not reveal a benefit from the mild-gain hearing aids, with no group differences on speech-in-noise tests or mental effort measures. Further, participants found the elevated cost of hearing aids to be a barrier for their adoption. CONCLUSIONS Hearing aids benefit the listening experience in some listening situations for people with normal audiogram who report hearing difficulties in noise. Decreasing the price of hearing aids may lead to greater accessibility to those seeking remediation for their communication needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiri Mealings
- Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- National Acoustic Laboratories, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- These authors have contributed to the article equally and share the first authorship
| | - Joaquin T Valderrama
- These authors have contributed to the article equally and share the first authorship
| | - Jorge Mejia
- National Acoustic Laboratories, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Computing, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ingrid Yeend
- Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- National Acoustic Laboratories, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Brent Edwards
- Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- National Acoustic Laboratories, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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