Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2017 Jan;60(1):13-18. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.17076.

The Effect of Limited Counseling Time on Hearing Aid Uptake

• Noh H
• Lee H
• Lee SH
• Ko G
• Kim IH
• Kim RH

• KMID: 2370954
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.17076

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
To determine appropriate counseling time for the first hearing aids user, we measured the effectiveness of first counseling time limit of 20 minutes for those who need hearing aids and collected predictive parameters during history taking.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
We reviewed the medical records of 956 patients (age 66.5±12.1) with hearing impairment who needed hearing aids. We divided patients into two groups, those who had counseling time limited to 20 minutes and others who had no time limitation. Job status, working condition of noise status, social activity and audiological variables were analyzed as probable predicting factors influencing the purchasing of the hearing aid (penetration rate).
RESULTS
Of the total 956 patients, 48.64% of subjects decided to purchase hearing aids at first counseling. The two groups showed no significant difference (p=0.396): 49.81% of the group without time limitation purchased the hearing aid and 47.04% of those with time limitation purchased the aid. The social status, right side pure tone threshold and right side tinnitus were significant for calculating the explanation power (64.15%) in the hearing aid uptake probability equation.
CONCLUSION
The level of social activity, hearing threshold and tinnitus were predictive variables obtained during the counseling. The time limitation of 20 minutes did not affect the rate of decision to purchase hearing aids. These results might help hearing clinics improve efficient time management at hearing aid clinics.

Keyword

Counseling; Hearing aids