Abstract
This Cochrane corner features the review entitled “Hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss in adults” published in 2017. In their review, Ferguson et al. identified five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving 825 participants, with moderate quality of evidence shown for all domains except adverse effects. Results showed a large beneficial effect of hearing aids on hearing-specific health-related quality of life and listening ability, and a small yet significant beneficial effect on overall health-related quality of life. Ferguson et al. concluded that according to the available evidence, hearing aids are effective at improving hearing-specific health-related quality of life, general health-related quality of life and listening ability in adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The evidence supports the widespread provision of hearing aids as the first-line clinical management for those seeking help for hearing difficulties.
Highlights
Hearing aids are a routine treatment for patients suffering from hearing loss.Whilst alternative interventions exist for hearing loss, including rehabilitation and communication programs that support self-management and other assistive hearing devices, hearing aids are the most widely used treatments for mild to moderate hearing loss
For those that do use their hearing aids, typical daily usage is for 8 to 12 hours and there are no significant differences in hearing aid use for adults with mild or moderate hearing loss, nor is age or gender a significant predictor of daily hearing aid usage (Timmer et al, 2017)
Hearing loss increases with age (Akeroyd et al, 2014), and with an ageing population the number of people suffering from hearing loss will continue to increase along with the quality of life and economic burdens associated with this condition (Mathers, 2008).This makes it ever more important to examine the evidence base for a common intervention, such as hearing aids, to establish whether this intervention provides a sufficient improvement in quality of life and other key outcome measures
Summary
Hearing aids are a routine treatment for patients suffering from hearing loss. Whilst alternative interventions exist for hearing loss, including rehabilitation and communication programs that support self-management and other assistive hearing devices, hearing aids are the most widely used treatments for mild to moderate hearing loss. A Cochrane review by Ferguson et al (2017) investigates this important topic by examining the effectiveness of hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The primary outcomes for this Cochrane review were hearing-specific healthrelated quality of life, with participation as the key domain, and pain associated with hearing aids. Secondary outcomes of interest were health-related quality of life, functional measure of listening ability, and adverse effects of noise-induced hearing loss. Cochrane review abstract from Ferguson et al (2017) Background The main clinical intervention for mild to moderate hearing loss is the provision of hearing aids. These are routinely offered and fitted to those who seek help for hearing difficulties. By amplifying and improving access to sounds, and speech sounds in particular, the aim of hearing aid use is to reduce the negative consequences of hearing loss and improve participation in everyday life
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