While hearing aids are recommended for people with age-related hearing loss, many with impaired hearing do not use them. In this study, we investigated how many elderly people in the study area needed hearing aids, and the factors that determined continued wearing of the devices. The study area was Kurabuchi Town, Japan, where 1,437 residents (those aged 65 years or over) were eligible for part...

OBJECTIVES In the present study, we investigated whether speech-related cognitive function and speech recognition ability under background noise in adults with hearing impairment are improved with the use of hearing aids. METHODS Participants were recruited from the ENT Department of Eulji Hospital from September 2008 to July 2009. The study group comprised 18 participants (mean age, 69.5±8.3...

Technological limitations have restricted the capability of older generation in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids to closely match prescribed real ear gain/frequency responses. Newer technology, widely available in currently marketed ITE hearing aids, has considerably improved this capability. Data for 60 ears are presented comparing the real ear insertion gain (REIG) actually achieved to the target R...

Hearing loss is common among older adults. Research has found a prevalence of 33% or higher of bilateral hearing loss in people 50 and older (Mitchell et al., 2011). Hearing loss has been associated with decline in both mental and physical health. Problems linked to hearing loss include lower cognitive functioning, functional status, and quality of lifefortunately, many older adults who purchas...

The functional status of 114 hearing aids from 8 nursing homes and retirement centers located in mid-Michigan was evaluated via visual/listening inspections and electroacoustic analysis. Overall, 45% of the hearing aids from both facilities failed 1 or more components. The hearing aids from the nursing homes had a much higher problem rate than those from the retirement centers. The results rein...

Bone anchored hearing implants/aids (BAHI/BAHA) utilise a bone anchored hearing aid system to assist people with conductive hearing loss who cannot use traditional hearing aids. It was introduced in the 1970 ́s in the field of dentistry by Swedish Professor Per-Inge Brånemark who implanted titanium dental fixtures in the jaw. He then proceeded to develop titanium implants to anchor hearing aids ...

The benefit of bilateral hearing aids is well documented, but many hearing-aid users still wear only one aid. It is plausible that the occlusion effect is part of the reason for some hearing-aid users not wearing both hearing aids. In this study we quantified the subjective occlusion effect by asking ten experienced users of bilateral hearing aids and a reference group of ten normal-hearing ind...

OBJECTIVE Age-related hearing loss is an increasingly important public health problem affecting approximately 40% of 55-74 year olds. The primary clinical management intervention for people with hearing loss is hearing aids, however, the majority (80%) of adults aged 55-74 years who would benefit from a hearing aid, do not use them. Furthermore, many people given a hearing aid do not wear it. T...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In our previous studies we explored the social representation of hearing loss and hearing aids. In this study we aimed at exploring if the positive, neutral and negative connotations associated with the social representation of 'hearing loss' and 'hearing aids' for the same categories vary across countries. In addition, we also looked at if there is an association betw...

Bone anchored hearing implants/aids (BAHI/BAHA) utilise a bone anchored hearing aid system to assist people with conductive hearing loss who cannot use traditional hearing aids. It was introduced in the 1970 ́s in the field of dentistry by Swedish Professor Per-Inge Brånemark who implanted titanium dental fixtures in the jaw. He then proceeded to develop titanium implants to anchor hearing aids ...