Biomedical subjects

G Boisen

Publications and source records attributed to G Boisen.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

[Hearing in a geriatric perspective].

To assess whether hearing rehabilitation of older people can be improved by co-operation between the audiology and geriatric departments and the home service, 139 old and frail audiological patients were allocated to three groups with three different fitting procedures: 1) conventional fitting including verification of acoustical gain in the patient's ear; 2) home-fitting by hearing therapists, and 3) home-fitting by a specially trained geriatric nursing assistant, the home help also being present. Outcome was assessed by the ordinary questionnaire mailed to hearing aids users three to four months after fitting and by a geriatric evaluation procedure. The response rate in the conventionally fitted group was highly unsatisfactory (36%) and too small for further data-analysis. In the educational group a tendency was found towards better manipulation skills and significantly higher hearing aid use. However, the response rate was lower than in the geriatric group (71% compared to 81%), and no knowledge of hearing aid use was registered in the home service by this procedure. In the geriatric group a correlation was found between practical ability and use and satisfaction with the hearing aid. However, two thirds of the group were dependent on lasting help for the handling of the aid. Most patients in this group were already known by the hospital and home service, and the individual home help showed an interest in learning about hearing aid use. Home fitting by a joint audiological and geriatric effort in collaboration with the home help has proven feasible and valuable to both patient and home help. Extended co-operation is recommended between the health care and the social sector concerning hearing aid use.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

A clinical comparative investigation of a non-linear versus linear hearing aid.

The objective of this study was to compare the effect and performance of a hearing aid (HA) having a non-linear amplification below 1600 Hz (test HA) with a linear amplifying HA (control HA), aiming towards identical target groups of hearing-disabled people. The investigation was designed as a single-blind crossover interview study, i.e. the interviewer was blind. Thirty-two experienced HA users at a median age of 74 years participated. The observation period was 6-8 weeks for both HAs. For several evaluation parameters the participants found the test HA superior to the control HA, and a significantly better effect of the test HA was indicated in person-to-person conversation in quiet surroundings. Also, quality of sound was significantly better in the test HA, and thus these parameters support the test HA, being preferred by 75%. No significant differences were found in the objectively evaluated parameter, i.e. speech recognition score in background noise (SRSN: S/N = 0) between the two aids. A one-year follow-up examination of those preferring the test HA demonstrated continuously frequent use and satisfaction with the automatic volume control. It is concluded that skilled HA users with a wide range of hearing impairment at an age of 60-80 years prefer a non-linear HA to their current linear HA when fitted monaurally--however, a certain bias in the unblinded test subjects cannot be excluded.

Aged↗

PubMed1990

In-the-canal hearing aids. Their use by and benefit for the younger and elderly hearing-impaired.

The present investigation was performed in order to evaluate the use and benefit of in-the-canal hearing aids (ITC-HAs; Dan 131) in a group of elderly and younger subjects. An extensive questionnaire was mailed to 256 hearing aid users. The responding group comprised 220 subjects (86%) and consisted of 108 males and 112 females with a median age of 69 years, range 11-89. In order to compare between the elderly and the younger subjects, the material was subdivided into two groups: one less than 70 years (n = 113), and the other greater than or equal to 70 years (n = 107). The median values of the average threshold at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz for the right and/or left ear (which was fitted with hearing aid(s] was 43 dB HL, thus indicating a moderate hearing loss. The questionnaires demonstrated that 74% of the subjects used their ITC-HA every day, 28% used the aid very seldom and only 1% never used the hearing-aid. 74% of the total sample were satisfied or very satisfied with the ITC-HA, while 19% were not entirely satisfied or dissatisfied. No significant differences between the elderly and the younger groups were found concerning time-related use, situational use, self-assessed effect, or general satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the aid. The elderly found the aid significantly more troublesome to deal with. It is concluded that hearing-impaired subjects with moderate hearing losses use and benefit from ITA-HAs, regardless of age. However, a ITC-HA should be recommended for the elderly only if they can be offered thorough individual instruction.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

[Hearing disorders--what do we know?].

The object of this investigation is to describe persons with hearing defects knowledge about and the offers of help from the service for the deaf and, simultaneously, to describe the attitudes in the primary health sector to hearing problems and knowledge about the audiological possibilities in the hospital sector. One hundred and three consecutive persons referred to the service for the deaf for the first time (35 men and 68 women with an average of 74 years, range 15-94 years) were included in the investigation. The sex and age distributions were representative for the adult patient clientele in this department. On investigation in the department, the patients replied to a questionnaire which could reveal: the complaint which had led to referral to the department; how possible hearing problems had been discovered; why the patient sought help just now; how long the problem had been present; the treatment he/she expected to result from the investigation; whether the patient had previously discussed the hearing problem with the ENT specialist or his own general practitioner. 86% sought help in the department on account of hearing problems which had most frequently been noticed by the patient himself and his family. 55% had had the problem for one to five years and only 13% had had the problem for one year or less. 26% had experienced the hearing problem for more than five years. 59% expected relief of the problem in the form of a hearing aid, while 28% had no expectations about improvement or relief of their problem.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Attitude of Health Personnel↗