The Application of the Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life Scale in Hearing Aid Users

Lee, In Young; Byun, Jae Yong; Kim, Hoon; Chang, Myung Keun; Cho, Joong Saeng; Cha, Chang Il

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The evaluation of subjective satisfaction by hearing aid users is important in view of improving pre-assessment needs and predicting treatment outcome. We evaluated the subjective satisfaction by hearing aid users accodin to the Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life (SADL) scale, which emphasizes nonauditory factors contributing to satisfaction as well as benefit. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The SADL scale was completed by 42 patients who received hearing aid fitting at Kyung Hee University Hospital from October 2002 to April 2003 ; each 4 subscales of the SADL were evaluated according to the type and degree of hearing loss, the pure tone audiogram pattern and shape and type of the hearing aid. RESULTS: The mixed type hearing loss group showed higher satisfaction than the sensorineural hearing loss group with respect to positive effect and personal image. Mild and moderate hearing loss groups showed a higher overall satisfaction than severe hearing loss group. There were no statistical differences of scores between pure tone audiogram patterns, and shapes and types of hearing aids, but female users showed higher personal image score when using small (ITC, CIC) hearing aids than large (BTE, ITE) ones. Ascending, descending, and peak type pure tone audiogram patterns users showed a higher satisfaction in positive effect and service and cost when using digital hearing aids than analogue ones. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction is affected by different variables that could be measured by the SADL scales that evaluate independent domains. Assessing patient's subjective satisfaction can be helpful in planning appropriate intervention.