| dc.description.abstract | Objectives: Self-fitting hearing aids have the potential to increase the accessibility of hearing 3 health care. The aims of this study were to: (1) identify factors that are associated with the 4 ability to successfully set up a pair of commercially available self-fitting hearing aids; 2) 5 identify factors that are associated with the need for knowledgeable, personalized support in 6 performing the self-fitting procedure; and (3) evaluate performance of the individual steps in 7 the self-fitting procedure. 8
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Design: Sixty adults with hearing loss between the ages of 51 and 85 took part in the study. 10 Half of the participants were current users of bilateral hearing aids; the other half had no 11 previous hearing aid experience. At the first appointment, participants underwent assessments 12 of health locus of control, hearing aid self-efficacy, cognitive status, problem-solving skills, 13 demographic characteristics, and hearing thresholds. At the second appointment, participants 14 followed a set of computer-based instructions accompanied by video clips to self-fit the 15 hearing aids. The self-fitting procedure required participants to customize the physical fit of 16 the hearing aids, insert the hearing aids into the ear, perform self-directed in situ audiometry, 17 and adjust the resultant settings according to their preference. Participants had access to 18 support with the self-fitting procedure from a trained clinical assistant (CA) at all times. 19
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Results: Forty-one (68%) of the participants achieved a successful self-fitting. Participants 21 who self-fit successfully were significantly more likely than those who were unsuccessful to 22 have had previous experience with hearing aids and to own a mobile device (when 23 controlling for four potential covariates). Of the 41 successful self-fitters, 15 (37%) 24 performed the procedure independently and 26 (63%) sought support from the CA. The 25 successful self-fitters who sought CA support were more likely than those who self-fit 26 independently to have a health locus of control that is externally oriented toward powerful 27 others. Success rates on the individual steps in the self-fitting procedure were relatively high. 28 No one step was more problematic than any other, nor was there a systematic tendency for 29 particular participants to make more errors than others. Steps that required use of the hearing 30 aids in conjunction with the self-fitting app on the participant’s mobile device had the highest 31 rates of support use. 32
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Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that non-audiologic factors should be 34 considered when selecting suitable candidates for the self-fitting hearing aids evaluated in 35 this study. Although computer-based instructions and video clips were shown to improve 36 self-fitting skill acquisition relative to past studies in which printed instruction booklets were 37 used, the majority of people are still likely to require access to support from trained personnel 38 while carrying out the self-fitting procedure, especially when this requires the use of an app. 39 | en_US |
