J Audiol Otol.  2023 Jan;27(1):24-29. 10.7874/jao.2022.00227.

Effects of Receiving Hearing Aids on Health-Related Quality of Life in Adults With Mild Hearing Loss

• Zahl SM

• KMID: 2538717
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7874/jao.2022.00227

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Hearing aid (HA) use is a common rehabilitation method for people with hearing loss. This study aimed to investigate whether the use of HA will advance the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Subjects and
Methods
Patients referred to a public audiological department in Norway were invited to participate in this pre-post interventional study. The RAND-SF-36, a generic HRQoL questionnaire, was administered to the participants before and three months after HA fitting. Changes in HRQoL dimensions were analyzed for the whole group and for subgroups based on sex, age, and presence of tinnitus.
Results
A total of 202 adults (109 men; mean age, 66.68 years [SD=10.92]) were included in the study. After a mean observation time of 91.63 days (SD=45.61), pain and general health significantly improved. Women aged ≥70 years without tinnitus improved in social functioning, while men aged <70 years with tinnitus improved in general health.
Conclusions
Adults with mild hearing loss reported better general health and less bodily pain three months after HA fitting than before. The patient subgroups reported improved general health and social functioning. However, causation remains uncertain because of methodological limitations. A randomized, controlled trial with a longer follow-up time could clarify such issues.

Keyword

Hearing loss; Rehabilitation; Hearing aids; Quality of life; Tinnitus