The effects of hearing aid use in age -related hearing loss on auditory perception and life quality

Aim of the research: Hearing aids are devices that are used to reduce the negative effects of hearing loss or to maintain the hearing loss in an acceptable level. A qualified hearing aid should perform the role of transmitting the sound heard to the hearing centers in a qualified way in its natural form as much as possible in addition to its role of increasing the sound. The aim of the research is to investigate the effects of the use of hearing aids for three months by adults patients who has age-related hearing loss on auditory perception and life quality.Tools and Method: 40 patients who consulted Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic in Başkent University Hospital between January, 2012 and May 2012 and who are eligible for the study are included in the research. The effects of the use of hearing aids on auditory perception and life quality are analyzed three months before and after using hearing aid by the people who were diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss in audiometric tests, recommended to use hearing aid and who were going to use the hearing aid just for one of their ears for the first time. The patients are evaluated in terms of age, gender, pure sound threshold average of both ears (one of which with hearing aid), speech discrimination, HHIA and IOI-HA scores.Findings: According to the findings, 47,5 % of the participants in the research (19/40) are male and 52,5 % are female (21/40). 21 patients used the hearing aids for their left ears and 19 used for their right ears. The patients stated that they benefited moderately or much more than that. It is observed that with the use of hearing aid, the scores of speech discrimination increased in both ears especially in the ones with hearing aids. As the duration of the use of the hearing aid during the day increase, it is determined that there is an improvement in the scores of patient satisfaction and questionnaire results in parallel.Result: The patients who use the hearing aid for the first time are observed to be satisfied with using hearing aid in general. Furthermore, three months after the use of hearing aid, patients' psychosocial problems associated with hearing reduced significantly, the feelings of disability due to the hearing loss and the quality of their life depending on hearing are seen to be improved.