Hearing Aid Use Prevents and Reverses Loss of Speech Understanding in Adults with Hearing Loss

Abstract

Objectives: Determine in subjects with hearing loss if speech discrimination declines over time and, if so, whether it could be maintained or restored with the use of hearing aids. Methods: A prospective study of age-related hearing loss performed over 6 years concluding in February of 2013 in a private physician’s office. Subjects: 39 male, 44 female, mean age of 72 years, reporting difficulty hearing who agreed to have repeat audiometric evaluation at least 6 months following the initial audiogram, whether or not they obtained amplification. Subjects were given an initial hearing examination to measure tone threshold and speech discrimination. Forty-seven of the subjects received amplification shortly after this initial test and were tested a final time 27.7 months later. Twenty-five of the subjects did not receive amplification immediately after the initial test but did receive amplification after a second test (36 months later) and were then given a final test 19.5 months later. Eleven of the subjects never received amplification but were tested a final time 39.1 months after their initial hearing exam. Outcome measures: Tone threshold and speech discrimination. Results: Subjects who never received amplification showed significant loss in speech discrimination ( P < .5). Amplification significantly increased speech discrimination ( P < .001). In subjects given 3 tests, there were significant decreases in speech discrimination without amplification ( P < .05), which was restored after 19.5 months of amplification ( P < .05). Conclusions: Progressive hearing loss is associated with a loss of speech discrimination. Speech discrimination can be maintained or restored by the use of hearing aids.