Evaluation of the self-fitting process with a commercially available hearing aid

Abstract

Background: Hearing aids and personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) that are designed to be self-fitted by the user at home are becoming increasingly available in the online marketplace. While these devices are often marketed as a low-cost alternative to traditional hearing health care, little is known about people’s ability to successfully use and manage them. Previous research into individual components of a simulated self-fitting procedure has been undertaken, but no study has evaluated performance of the procedure as a whole using a commercial product.