Case Factors Affecting Hearing Aid Recommendations by Hearing Care Professionals

Abstract

The discrepancies in HI technology level recommendations are not justified by academic research or evidence of optimal patient outcome with a different HI technology level. The paradigm of lifestyle as the significant variable identified in this study is apparently deeply anchored in the mindset of the professional despite the lack of supporting evidence. These results call for a shift in the professional's technology level recommendation practice, from nonevidence-based to a proven practice that can maximize patient outcome.

Classification of Hearing Aids Into Feature Profiles Using Hierarchical Latent Class Analysis Applied to a Large Dataset of Hearing Aids

“…Over the past decades, the process of hearing aid selection has gradually shifted from a selection driven primarily by the amplification characteristics of hearing aids ( Studebaker 1982 ; Cox 1985 ; Byrne 1996 ), toward a selection method that besides amplification takes into account the availability of more complex signal processing and overall level of technology ( Meister et al 2010 ; Northern 2011 ; Gioia et al 2015 ). A recent study by Anderson et al (2018) shows that the availability of specific (signal-processing) hearing aid features is an important aspect of selection among audiologists.…”

“…A recent study by Anderson et al (2018) shows that the availability of specific (signal-processing) hearing aid features is an important aspect of selection among audiologists. The hearing aid selection process is prone to various types of bias: for example, selection could be influenced by previous experiences of the hearing aid dispenser ( Johnson et al 2009 ; Gioia et al 2015 ). A caveat regarding hearing aid selection is the absence of an objective method for comparing hearing aids.…”

Impact of Hearing Aid Technology on Outcomes in Daily Life I: The Patients’ Perspective

“…However, practitioners do not have any scientifically grounded guidelines to help them determine when to recommend basic-feature technology and when to recommend premium features (Giola et al, 2015). Because independent research is lacking, practitioners rely mostly on unverified manufacturer claims about feature benefits when they decide which hearing aid(s) to recommend to patients.…”