Fitting Hearing Aids Using Clinical Prefitting Speech Measures: An Evidence-Based Review

Abstract

A systematic review of the literature addressed the question "Is there evidence of a good correlation between unaided prefitting speech measures and aided satisfaction on self-report measures?" This restricted question is only one of several possible questions related to speech measures and hearing aid fittings. The levels of evidence that were accepted included meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and nonrandomized intervention studies. Nearly 300 articles and book chapters were identified during the initial search; 220 were eliminated on the basis of their abstracts; and 80 papers and book chapters were reviewed in depth. Five studies met the criteria set forth in this review. No significant correlation between traditional unaided prefitting speech measures and aided satisfaction was found in any of the five studies. One of the studies showed a correlation between the results of a prefitting speech-in-noise test and self-reported aided satisfaction.

The ICF Core Sets for hearing loss: researcher perspective, Part II: Linking outcome measures to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)

“…As concluded in Part I, the assessment of abilities related to ' speech recognition ' or ' sound detection ' (measures partly connected to the hearing functions) were common. These types of measures are also highly valued and frequently used as outcome measures within the audiological fi eld (Gatehouse, 1998;Killion & Gudmundsen, 2005;Saunders et al, 2005). Even though these types of measurements are often used to assess impairments, Body functions in the ICF are not equal to impairments because ICF offers the possibility to express both negative and positive aspects of human functioning.…”

Outcome Measurement for Patients Receiving Hearing Aid Services

“…In audiology, as in most other areas of health care, there has been a recent emphasis on evidence‐based practice 1–9 . This focus has prompted practitioners to search for outcome measures that have the potential to verify the effectiveness of treatment.…”

“…In audiology, as in most other areas of health care, there has been a recent emphasis on evidence-based practice. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] This focus has prompted practitioners to search for outcome measures that have the potential to verify the effectiveness of treatment. One audiology practice area in which to apply this approach is the dispensing of hearing aids and the rehabilitation of hearing-impaired adults.…”

Within-consonant perceptual differences in the hearing impaired ear

“…In these past studies, data analysis was performed using either an average measure (over all consonants) or with consonants grouped by distinctive features. Speech measures derived from an average have been useful tools for screening and classifying those with a hearing impairment; however, they have not proven useful as prescriptive measures (Taylor, 2006;Killion and Gudmundsen, 2005).…”