Pilot Comparison of Adjustment Protocols of Personal Sound Amplification Products

Semin Hear 2019; 40: 026-036 DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676781The Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 was signed into law in August 2017 and facilitates the introduction of direct-to-consumer sales of hearing aids for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Among many questions surrounding over-the-counter sales is the ability of users to self-fit amplification. Many studies have conducted self-fitting procedures using guidance materials provided by audiologists. In this pilot, we explore the ability of users to self-adjust personal sound amplification devices using only materials provided by the manufacturer and contrast this with models that involve a hearing professional. Outcomes to assess adjustments included clinic-based speech-in-noise measures and ability to approximate NAL-NL2 prescriptive targets. We found that an audiologist-driven model provided the best outcomes. However, it is unknown if the difference is clinically meaningful. [...] Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.Article in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text

Source: Seminars in Hearing - February 5, 2019 Category: Audiology Authors: Reed, Nicholas S. Oliver, Antoinette Srinivasan, Nirmal Kumar Lin, Frank R. Korczak, Peggy A. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research