Presbyacusis Clinical Trial
Official title:
Use of Hearing Aids. Development and Implementation of a Counselling Program for Hearing Aid Users.
The proportion of elderly people is expected to increase greatly within the next couple of
decades, resulting in a proportional increase in the need for hearing rehabilitation.
However, studies suggest that as many as 40% of hearing aids are never or seldom used. Thus,
a major challenge for audiological rehabilitation is facilitating the use of fitted hearing
aids.
This study has four objectives; 1) to evaluate the effect of advanced notice of a follow-up
appointment on hearing aid use, 2) to implement a specialized counselling program based on
MI, 3) to identify barriers to hearing aid use, and 4) to objectively assess hearing aid use
with datalogging technology.
Hearing impairment is one of the most common health issues among adults in Western
countries. Socioeconomic status and level of family support are known to influence
help-seeking among older hearing-impaired individuals. Although hearing loss can have
significant adverse effects on an individual's quality of life, these effects have been
found to be reversible through the use of hearing aids. Even short-time use has been found
to improve the emotional and social experience of hearing impaired subjects. Unfortunately,
of the approximately 200 000 people who have been provided with hearing aids in Norway, it
is estimated that as many as 20-40% seldom or never use them. Lack of follow-up support and
low motivation may explain why hearing impaired people do not use their hearing aids, but
few research studies have addressed these issues.
The aim of this study is to evaluate two approaches for increasing hearing aid use, to
obtain objective estimates of actual hearing aid use, to identify factors barriers to
regular use and to study hearing aid use related to age and gender. The study will examine
the extent to which follow-up appointments motivate use of hearing aids among people with
hearing loss. A randomized controlled design will determine whether hearing aid users who
are informed in advance of a follow-up appointment have a different pattern of hearing aid
use than a control group that is not preinformed of the follow-up appointment. For decades,
the use of hearing aids has been estimated using questionnaires. In the present study,
hearing aid use will be objectively measured in hours pr.day using the hearing aid's
datalogging. In addition, the study will develop, implement and evaluate a specialized
counseling program for hearing aid users. Difficulties with and barriers to hearing aid use
will be documented and analyzed.
;
Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Subject), Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
| Status | Clinical Trial | Phase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruiting |
NCT05312983 -
Development of a Battery of Audiological Tests for the Precision Diagnosis of Age-related Hearing Loss
|
N/A |