Fitting hearing aids to first-time users.

S Arlinger; P E Lyregaard; E Billermark; M Oberg

doi:10.1080/010503900750042716

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PubMed · 10990013

Fitting hearing aids to first-time users.

S Arlinger·P E Lyregaard·E Billermark·M Oberg

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Abstract

Clinical experience indicates that first-time hearing aid users prefer less gain and lower maximum output levels than experienced users. This hypothesis was tested on 20 subjects being fitted with their first aids. The study was double blinded by using a programmable hearing aid, set to either the standard setting according to the manufacturer's software or to reduced gain and maximum output. Half of the subjects started with one hearing aid and half with the other, changing to the other hearing aid after 3 days trial with each setting. At the end of the study, subjects stated preference in specified situations and overall. No significant differences in APHAB, sound quality, estimated communication ability or perceived loudness scores were seen for the two settings. Nine subjects preferred the standard setting, seven the reduced setting and four were undecided. No correlation could be found between preference and audiological variables.

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Acoustic Stimulation Aged Consumer Behavior Correction of Hearing Impairment Cross-Over Studies Double-Blind Method Equipment Design Female Hearing Aids Humans Loudness Perception Male Middle Aged Prosthesis Fitting Speech Perception Surveys and Questionnaires Clinical Trial Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial

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S Arlinger, P E Lyregaard, E Billermark, M Oberg. 2000. Fitting hearing aids to first-time users.. https://doi.org/10.1080/010503900750042716

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