Based on parents' proxy report, findings suggest that having DD affects multiple domains of HRQoL among young children with CIs above and beyond that of the CI itself. Parents of deaf children with DD may need greater support through the CI process and follow-up than parents of deaf children without DD.

There is lack of a systematic approach concerning how to select an adequate hearing aid and how to evaluate its efficacy with respect to the personal needs of rehabilitation. The goal of this study was to examine the applicability and added value of two widely used self-reporting questionnaires in relation to the evaluation of hearing aid fitting. We analyzed responses, pre- and postfitting, from 1,319 subjects who completed the Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) and a slightly adapted version of the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap (in Dutch: AVAB). Most COSI responses were at or near the maximum possible score. Results show a close relation between COSI’s degree of change and final ability (Spearman’s rho = 0.71). Both AVAB and COSI showed a significant effect of hearing aid experience, but—in contrast to AVAB—COSI did not show a significant effect of the degree of hearing loss. In addition, a Friedman test showed significant differences between six dimensions of auditory functioning for both AVAB and COSI, although post hoc analysis revealed that for COSI, the dimension speech in quiet explained most variation between dimensions. In conclusion, the effects of hearing loss were more salient in AVAB, while both AVAB and COSI showed differences regarding hearing aid experience. Combining the advantages of both methods results in a detailed evaluation of hearing aid rehabilitation. Our results therefore suggest that both methods should be used in a complementary manner, rather than separately.

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Objective: To assess differences in hearing disabilities between different age groups and the effectiveness of rehabilitation with hearing aids. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: First line hearing aid dispensers. Patients: First-time hearing aid users divided in a younger group aged 18 to 65 years (119 subjects) and an elderly group aged 70 years and older (213 subjects). Intervention(s): Rehabilitative. Main Outcome Measure(s): Weighted pure tone averages (PTA) were calculated using the binaural impairment model. The patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) Amsterdam Questionnaire for Auditory Disabilities (AVAB), and client oriented scale of improvement (COSI) were collected pre- and post-fitting. To analyze whether age group, weighted PTA, and type of auditory dimension influences AVAB, linear regression and two-way ANalysis Of VAriance models were used. Results: The weighted PTA of the young group was significantly lower than of the elderly group. In the regression model differences between age groups were found to be significant for pre-AVAB and for AVAB benefit. The two-way ANalysis Of VAriance showed that the effect of age on pre- and post-AVAB scores was not influenced by PTA or the type of auditory dimension. Conclusions: Younger first-time hearing aid users experience more auditory disabilities, despite better hearing levels than their elderly counterparts. Their disabilities are rehabilitated more effectively by hearing aids.