Audiologist-fitted hearing aids outperform over-the-counter ones

Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids (HAs), in which audiologists provide limited services, are effective, but do not achieve the same outcomes as HAs fitted by audiologists (AUD service model), according to a study published online May 15 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Yu-Hsiang Wu, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and colleagues conducted a randomized clinical trial at the University of Iowa and Vanderbilt University Medical Center involving 245 adults aged older than 55 years with mild-to-moderate hearing loss and no previous HA experience.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of six groups representing factorial combination of three service models and two technology levels. The service models were AUD, in which prescription HAs were fitted by audiologists following best practices; OTC+, in which audiologists provided limited services for OTC HAs; and independently used OTC HAs. Throughout the trial, two technology levels of prescription HAs were used: a high-end HA with advanced features and low-end HA.

The researchers found that the postintervention ecological momentary assessment (EMA)-administered Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP) was significantly higher for AUD than for OTC+ and OTC by 0.33 and 0.32 points, respectively; after controlling for preintervention scores, the difference between OTC+ and OTC was not significant. EMA-GHABP global scores were close to 4 points for OTC+ and OTC, indicating positive outcomes. No significant effect of technology level or interaction between service model and technology level was seen.

“This randomized clinical trial found that the OTC+ and OTC service models were effective but did not achieve the same outcomes as the AUD service model,” the authors write.

Two authors disclosed ties to Signia and/or ReSound.

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