Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2023 Jan;66(1):15-19. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2021.00500.

Comparative Analysis of Subjective Satisfaction Between Hearing Aid Users With Insurance Payment and General Payment

• Nam GS
• Cho SI

• KMID: 2539155
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2021.00500

Abstract

Background and Objectives
This study aimed to compare subjective satisfaction and functional hearing gain between users of hearing aids with insurance payment (HA with IP) and hearing aids with general payment (HA with GP).
Subjects and Method
The functional hearing gain and subjective satisfaction of 42 HA with IP and 38 HA with GP were compared after the final fitting, retrospectively. Sound field pure tone and speech audiometry were performed after 4 sessions of hearing aids fitting. Subjective satisfaction was evaluated using the Korean version of abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit (APHAB) and the international outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA).
Results
Sound field pure tone thresholds and speech discrimination scores were improved after the final fitting of hearing aids in both HA with IP and HA with GP groups. HA with IP group showed significantly better results in aversiveness of APHAB and the IOI-HA scores than HA with GP group did.
Conclusion
These results suggest that hearing aids with insurance payment provide considerable benefits and satisfaction, and can be a good alternative for hearing rehabilitation in hearing-impaired patients.

Keyword

Hearing aid; Hearing loss; Insurance; Questionnaires