Evaluation of Auditory Functioning and Rehabilitation Using Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.
Simon Lansbergen, Inge De Ronde-Brons, Monique Boymans and 2 others
PMID 30047308WHAT IT FOUND
A hearing questionnaire profiled six listening problems; patient-chosen goals were mostly rated highly.
Use both together for counselling, but this observational study does not prove hearing aids work.
Key findings
01Overall AVAB scores were higher after fitting, with median scores of 2.43 before and 3.25 after.
02Most patients rated final ability highly after fitting: over 77% had mean COSI final ability scores of 4 or higher on the 5-point scale.
03Patients with a COSI target matched to detection, speech in quiet, or localization had lower pre-AVAB scores in those dimensions than patients without such targets.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Data were collected retrospectively from multiple hearing aid dispensers and audiological centres, and the paper notes minor procedural differences between them. Many collected cases were excluded for incomplete questionnaires or audiometric data, so the analysed sample may not represent all hearing aid users. There was no control group or randomisation, and patients received hearing aid selection, counselling, a trial period, and purchase together, so score changes cannot be attributed to hearing aids alone. COSI final ability scores showed a ceiling effect, with most scores at the top of the scale, limiting comparison between groups. Experienced users judged their pre-fitting AVAB scores while using old hearing aids, while first-time users judged without hearing aids, so baseline conditions differed between groups. COSI targets were matched to AVAB dimensions by dispensers or clinicians, and some targets could not be matched to any dimension.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Heinsius-Houbolt Foundation. No additional author conflict-of-interest declaration is provided in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the higher post-fitting AVAB scores or high COSI ratings as proof that hearing aids caused benefit. The study had no control group, and participants received hearing aid selection, counselling, a trial period, and purchase together, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.