A Randomized, Controlled Trial of the Efficacy of a Communication Course for First Time Hearing Aid Users

TLDR

Many hearing‑aid centers incorporate small‑group communication courses covering hearing loss, aid use, tactics, and lip reading as part of auditory rehabilitation. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of such a communication course through a randomized controlled trial. First‑time hearing‑aid users were randomized to a four‑week communication course or no additional rehab, with Quantified Denver Scale scores assessed at fitting and 13 weeks later. The course group showed a significantly greater reduction in handicap (QDS change) than controls (p = 0.014), demonstrating its efficacy.

Abstract

AbstractMany centres include a communication course as part of their auditory rehabilitation. These usually take the form of a small group and include discussion of the effects of hearing loss, use of the hearing aid, hearing tactics and lip reading. To investigate the efficacy of such a rehabilitation programme a randomized, controlled trial of a communication course was undertaken. All subjects were first time hearing aid users; handicap was measured using the Quantified Denver Scale of Communication Function (QDS) at the time of hearing aid fitting, and then 13 weeks later. All subjects had a hearing aid follow-up appointment, but the treatment group (n = 22) also underwent a four-week communication course, while the control group (n = 25) had no further rehabilitation. The reduction in handicap measured by the change in QDS was significantly greater for the treatment group than for the control group (Mann Whitney U test, tied p value = 0.014). This indicates that such a communication course is efficacious in reducing handicap. Further research is required to identify the populations that will benefit most from such a course.Key words: : communication courseauditory rehabilitation