The selection of hearing aids in elderly hearing impaired comparing performance between standard programming and individualized programming

Author(s)

Aline Papin Roedas da Silva

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Bauru.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB/SDB)
• Defense date: 2014-03-20

Examining board members

José Roberto Pereira Lauris; Wanderléia Quinhoneiro Blasca; Valdéia Vieira de Oliveira

• Advisor: José Roberto Pereira Lauris

Abstract

The external ear, as well as other structures of the body, feel the consequences of the aging process. This process causes the structures to adapt to continue to exercise their functions. Such transformations involve the anatomy and physiology of the ear structures, especially the external auditory canal (EAC), where the phenomenon of collapse, an anatomical feature that changes the capture and transmission of sound to the structures of the middle and inner ear occurs. The change in sound transmission culminates in hearing loss, a loss for speech perception, in view of the difficulty of discrimination of sounds, a characteristic common to the elderly. Thus, it becomes necessary to use resources to meet these difficulties, being available devices for hearing aid (HA), by carrying out selection procedures and adequate verification in order to make personalized fit. Thus, it is proposed individualized adaptation in the elderly due to anatomical and physiological characteristics of this population in the ears, which should be considered for the selection process and verification. Thus, this study aims to compare the performance between the standard programming and individualized programming of hearing aids in elderly hearing impaired. 30 individuals participated in the proposal with sensorineural bilateral symmetric and moderate hearing loss. We calculated the standard programming based on prescription data and based on the measurement of the RECD programming. Subsequently, the verification of the two schedules by measuring the REAR and speech perception (HINT) test was performed in order to compare the performance of the same. It was observed that , in general , in the sample , subjects presented better results in all assessment situations when the hearing aid was programmed based on the RECD obtained (PRECD) compared with standard programming (PP). Specifically in assessing the REAR when the dismemberment occurred by the collapse of the sample changes, both groups (with and without collapse ears), demonstrated better numerical results when used individualized programming (PRECD), but without statistical significance in the group without alteration (significance at 500 and 1000 Hz). Consequently, when the total sample evaluated, the PRECD performed better, with statistical significance. Likewise, the evaluation of HINT test, the responses obtained by groups of individuals (with and without collapse) and the total sample, followed the same trend assessment REAR. Thus, since the hearing aids performed better in assessing REAR with PRECD programming HINT test in this same programming offered better answers in speech intelligibility in all groups. Therefore, the results show that even in populations that do not have deviant characteristics should be considered on an individual approach in the selection and verification (PRECD) process to avoid losses in the adaptation of older people. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/06530-1 - The fitting of hearing aids to the hearing impaired elderly patient benefit from comparing the standard programming and individualized programming
• Grantee: Aline Papin Roedas da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master