Long‐term Impact of Hearing Aid Provision or Cochlear Implantation on Hearing Handicap

Kim, Alexander S.; Betz, Joshua F.; Nieman, Carrie L.; Hoyer, Matthew R.; Applebaum, Jeremy; Lin, Frank R.; Goman, Adele M.

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis
Previous research has shown hearing handicap to be reduced following hearing aid use or cochlear implantation in short-to-medium follow-up periods, yet the impact of interventions for hearing loss on hearing handicap in the long term remains understudied. This article reports hearing handicap at 6 months, 12 months, and 5 years after either hearing aid provision or cochlear implantation.

Study Design
Observational study.

Methods
A study of 115 participants from the Studying Multiple Outcomes after Aural Rehabilitative Treatment (SMART) study cohort assessed self-reported hearing handicap using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening version (HHIE-S) at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 5 years. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to estimate the population mean HHIE-S score over time, accounting for the correlated nature of repeated measures data, and multiple imputation with chained equations was performed to impute missing data.

Results
Compared to baseline, mean HHIE-S scores after hearing aid provision were significantly reduced at 6 months (mean = −7.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −10.40, −5.53), 12 months (mean = −6.58, 95% CI: −9.26, −3.90), and 5 years (mean = −4.58, 95% CI: −7.87, −1.30). After cochlear implantation, mean hearing handicap scores were also significantly lower compared to baseline at 6 months (mean = −8.18, 95% CI: −11.07, −5.30), 12 months (mean = −10.04, 95% CI: −12.92, −7.16), and 5 years (mean = −8.97, 95% CI: −12.92, −7.16).

Conclusions
This study found short-term benefits from hearing aids and cochlear implantation on hearing handicap were maintained over 5 years.

Citation

Kim, A. S., Betz, J. F., Nieman, C. L., Hoyer, M. R., Applebaum, J., Lin, F. R., & Goman, A. M. (2021). Long‐term Impact of Hearing Aid Provision or Cochlear Implantation on Hearing Handicap. Laryngoscope, 131(5), 1122-1126. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.29175

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 28, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Nov 2, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Deposit Date: Oct 7, 2021
• Journal: The Laryngoscope
• Print ISSN: 0023-852X
• Electronic ISSN: 1531-4995
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 131
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1122-1126
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.29175
• Keywords: Hearing loss, hearing handicap, hearing aids, cochlear implant, long-term outcomes
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2808100