Investigation of the effect of the use of bilateral hearing aid on discrimination score in sensorinoral hearing

Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of speech discrimination scores between individuals with sensorineural hearing loss who use single-sided hearing aid and individuals with sensorineural hearing loss who use two-sided hearing aid. Material and Method: The study group of the study was formed from patients aged between 55-70 years who were diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss and who had been using hearing aids for at least six months and whose follow-up had been made by practice and research centers in Istanbul and Konya. In the study, pure voice audiometry and then speech test were performed. In the first test, the pure sound audiometry test was performed in a silent cabin where the hearing aid was not in the patient's ear, and the patient was asked to show that he heard these sounds by pressing the button when he heard these sounds. In the subsequent speech test, the patient was asked to repeat the words. These applications were evaluated after 6 months. Obtained data R vers. 2.15.3 were analyzed by using paired t test in statistical program. Results: According to the study, as a result of evaluation performed before and six months after the use of bilateral hearing aids, speech discrimination scores of unilateral-right cases increased 0.82 ± 4.64 units. In unilateral-left cases, an average increase of 2,44 ± 3,11 units was observed after the hearing aid. In bilateral-right cases of using bilateral hearing aids, an average increase of 2.97 ± 3.92 units was observed after the hearing aid. In bilateral-left cases, an average increase of 1.77 ± 3.46 units was observed after the hearing aid. Conclusion: As a result of the evaluation of sd scores of patients using unilateral-right, unilateral-left and bilateral right, bilateral left hearing aids before and after six months of hearing aids; there was no statistically significant difference in speech discrimination score after the hearing aid compared to the before hearing aid (p> 0.05). Keywords: Bilateral Hearing Aid, Hearing Aid, Speech Discrimination Score, Sensorineural Hearing Lose