Benchmarks for Predictors of Hearing Aid Use Time in Children’s with Congenital and Acquired Hearing Loss - A Comparative Study

Abstract

Objectives: Various objectives were sated to know the percentage of hearing aid (HA) usage time based on HA models, early years and current using time, before HA goes on, consistency of using HA’s and open-ended responses in specific challenges.

Design: HA usage questionnaire was used. This survey has 18 questions based on HA usage time in various locations and situations. 60 parents of children with both congenital and acquired hearing loss were asked to complete this survey. Participants were divided into two groups: one with 30 parents of congenital hearing impaired (HI) children and another with 30 parents of congenital hearing impaired (HI) children. They were all given a 5-point rating system to use to score the questions. Simple percentage analysis was one to know the benchmarks for the stipulated objectives.

Results: Starkey and Siemens HA’s were used frequently by both the groups. During early years it was observed that 33% of children in the congenital group (CG) wore for longer duration (i.e., 5 to 6 hrs) whereas in the acquired group (AG) wore for limited duration i.e., 3 to 4 hrs. Similarly, in the current use time 33.3% in CG wore for 10 hrs and 30% in AG wore for 9 to 10 hrs. Maximum time utilized by 30% of children in CG is 9 hrs whereas 33.3% of AG wore by 7 hrs respectively during week days and weekends. HA goes time was observed to be lesser (30 mins) in 63.3% of CG, whereas 63.3% of AG reported 1 hr. In general, neither group utilized HA’s in the day care setting; however, all of the children used HA’s during school hours. The consistency of HA use time by CG revealed that 76.6- 100% of children used “always” in various situations like transport, play school, meal time, play alone, book sharing, playground and public places. Similarly in AG noticed that 100% showed always during school time whereas in other situations it is observed to be 66.7-83.3% “often” used HA’s in public places, book sharing, meal time, play ground and transport. This indicates that CG, on the other hand, wore HAs in the majority of instances, whereas the AG’s use varied. This suggests that the CG has adapted to HA. Finally results indicated that most of the CG’s facing problems in loud events and child state categories whereas equipment issues and breaks in routine categories were reported by AG.

Conclusions: HA’s utilized by CG are longer durations and HA goes time are less when compared to the AG. According to the findings of the current study, congenital children are adapted to HA’s and are more accustomed to wear them at all situations. HA’s used less consistently by the AG than CG. Parents reported that the problems related to equipment issues are frequently seen. The findings of the study also provided as a benchmark for the hearing aid use time. Authors stated that the usage of hearing aid time and adapting HA is critical in a child’s overall development.