At a glance
ClinicalIndex Comparison Record- ✓Age 70 years or older
- ✓Community-dwelling
- ✓Mild to severe sloping sensorineural hearing loss (4-frequency PTA 0.5–4.0 kHz >30 dB HL in better ear, ≤90 dB HL at any frequency)
- ✓Cognitively intact (MMSE ≥23)
- ✕Bilateral conductive hearing loss (>10 dB air-bone gap at ≥2 frequencies)
- ✕Corrected vision worse than 20/63 (MN Read Acuity test)
- ✕Unwillingness to use hearing aids daily (self-reported)
Standardized by ClinicalIndex from the ClinicalTrials.gov record · verify against the source.
Assessment of e-Audiology for Providing Clinical Services and Support for Age-related Hearing Loss: A Pilot Study
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Delivery of hearing healthcare through eAudiology application for Hearing Loss, Age-Related and 2 related conditions. Completed, enrolled 10 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
Technological advances in hearing aids and telecommunications, including the widespread availability of telehealth (referred to in this proposal as "e-Audiology") applications, have the potential to expand both access and affordability of hearing aids for those with age-related hearing loss (ARHL). E-Audiology is used by clinicians in a variety of settings, including private practice, university clinics, and the Veterans Administration. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association recently updated the Scope of Practice guidelines for audiology to include telehealth as "an alternative method of service delivery that en-compasses both diagnostics and intervention services.", including all aspects of hearing aid selection, fitting, and follow-up counseling and rehabilitation. However, given the paucity of evidence of comparative efficacy between office-based service delivery and e-Audiology in real-world settings, patients and relevant stakeholders are faced with a major decisional dilemma when determining which mode of service delivery would be optimal for addressing the needs, preferences, and lifestyles of those with ARHL. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine the benefits, drawbacks, and patient satisfaction associated with e-Audiology delivery of hearing aid fitting, services, and supports for older adults with mild to moderate ARHL. We plan to use data collected in this pilot study for a future R01 submission to the NIH.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
Participants will receive bilateral, behind-the-ear hearing aids as part of this study. The intervention will involve e-Audiology sessions following the initial hearing aid fitting and orientation. E-Audiology sessions will consist of hearing aid follow-up programming, troubleshooting, HAT assistance, and general help with hearing devices. E-Audiology sessions will take place over the course of approximately 6 weeks.