Self-Fitting vs. Audiologist-Fitted Hearing Aid
Trial question
What is the role of self-fitting hearing aid in adults with self-perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss?
Study design
Single center
Open label
RCT
Population
Characteristics of study participants
48.0% female
52.0% male
N = 64
64 patients (31 female, 33 male).
Inclusion criteria: adults with self-perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
Key exclusion criteria: normal hearing thresholds; possible outer or middle ear pathology; severe hearing loss.
Interventions
N=32 self-fitting hearing aid (OTC, self-testing and self-fitting hearing aid [Lexie Lumen]).
N=32 audiologist-fitted hearing aid (hearing aid [Lexie Lumen] fitted professionally with a clinically obtained audiogram).
Primary outcome
Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit self-reported global score at 2 weeks
28.1 points
17.8 points
28.1 points
21.1 points
14.1 points
7.0 points
0.0 points
Self-fitting hearing
aid
Audiologist-fitted hearing
aid
Significant
increase ▲
Significant increase in Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit self-reported global score at 2 weeks (28.1 points vs. 17.8 points; MD 10.3, 95% CI 0.1 to 20.5).
Secondary outcomes
Borderline significant increase in Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit self-reported global score at 6 weeks (30.1 points vs. 21.4 points; MD 8.7, 95% CI -0.01 to 17.41).
Borderline significant increase in International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids total score at 2 weeks (30.3 points vs. 28.4 points; MD 1.9, 95% CI 0 to 3.8).
Borderline significant increase in International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids total score at 6 weeks (30.7 points vs. 30.2 points; MD 0.5, 95% CI 0 to 1).
Conclusion
In adults with self-perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, self-fitting hearing aid was superior to audiologist-fitted hearing aid with respect to Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit self-reported global score at 2 weeks.
Reference
Karina C De Sousa, Vinaya Manchaiah, David R Moore et al. Effectiveness of an Over-the-Counter Self-fitting Hearing Aid Compared With an Audiologist-Fitted Hearing Aid: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 Jun 1;149(6):522-530.
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