Received Hearing Aids Research Articles

Hearing Rehabilitative Treatment for Older Adults With Comorbid Hearing Loss and Depression: Effects on Depressive Symptoms and Executive Function

ObjectivesRecent research has revealed important neural and psychiatric consequences of hearing loss (HL) in older adults. This pilot study examined the neural effects of HL and the impact of hearing aids on neuropsychiatric outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD). DesignTwelve-week, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Participants/InterventionN = 25 (≥60 years) with MDD and moderate-profound HL were randomized to receive hearing aids (100% gain targets) or sham hearing aids (flat 30 dB HL) in addition to psychiatric treatment-as-usual. MeasurementsDepressive symptoms (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression [HRSD]), executive functioning (NIH Toolbox Flanker), integrity of auditory brain areas (structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging). ResultsAt baseline, worse speech discrimination was associated with auditory cortical thinning (Left anterior transverse temporal gyrus: r = 0.755, p = 0.012) and lower integrity of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (FA: Left r = 0.772, p = 0.025, Right r = 0.782, p = 0.022). After 12-weeks, hearing aids were effective at improving hearing functioning (Hearing Handicap for the Elderly: active -12.47 versus sham -4.19, t = -2.64, df = 18, p = 0.016) and immediate memory (active +14.9 versus sham +5.7, t = 2.28, df = 16, p = 0.037). Moderate improvement was observed for hearing aids on executive functioning but did not reach statistical significance (Flanker: active +4.8 versus sham -2.4, t = 1.95, df = 15, p = 0.071). No significant effect on depression was found (HRSD: active -5.50 versus sham -7.32, t = 0.75, df = 19, p = 0.46). ConclusionsHL can affect brain regions important for auditory and cognitive processing, and hearing remediation may have beneficial effects on executive functioning in MDD. Future studies may evaluate whether impairment in cognitive control consequent to HL may be an important risk mechanism for MDD.

Age-related hearing loss, depression and auditory amplification: a randomized clinical trial

Our study investigates the effectiveness of aural rehabilitation to decrease depressive symptoms in older adults, and the relationship between hearing loss and depression. A randomized controlled study was conducted at a hearing rehabilitation center with people over 65years old. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group who received hearing aids, or to the control group. Data collection included pure-tone audiometry and a Portuguese version of the Geriatric Depression Scale assessed at two time points: baseline (P0) and after 4-week period (P1). The results show that the increase of hearing thresholds in pure-tone audiometry is associated with a significant increase in depressive symptoms (p = 0.001). The effect of aural rehabilitation for improving depressive symptoms was significant in intervention group (p = 0.000) and between groups (p = 0.003) in P1. Age-related hearing loss has adverse effects on older adults' mental health, due to reduced hearing inputs that may increase levels of effort to communicate and affect social engagement, which lead to depression. Hearing aid use improves levels of depression and can promote greater quality of life in older adults.

Translation and validation of the revised version of the LittlEARS® early speech production questionnaire (LEESPQ®), in Dutch-speaking children with normal hearing

Introduction With the introduction of newborn hearing screening, children with different degrees of hearing loss can receive hearing aids and cochlear implants in the early months after birth, which is also the case in the Netherlands and in Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. Materials and methods This has intensified the need for a validated questionnaire in the Dutch language to assess the speech development of children under the age of two. The LittlEARS Early Speech Production Questionnaire® (LEESPQ®), which was originally developed and validated in German language, was translated and validated into the Dutch language. Questionnaires of 355 normal hearing children were analysed. Results Total score was highly correlated with age (r = .775) and a normative curve was created. Internal consistency was reached with a high value of α = 0.870, which indicates that the questionnaire almost exclusively assesses speech production ability. The Dutch version of the LEESPQ®, is reliable, consistent and independent of gender or lingual status. As such, the Dutch LEESPQ®, may be a useful tool for language monitoring for children from birth to 18 months of age. Conclusion The Dutch LittlEARS Early Speech Production Questionnaire®, was found to be a reliable and valid tool to assess and monitor the early speech and language production skills in children up to 18 months of age.

Hearing care aspects in universal face mask use during the COVID 19 pandemic

Typical cloth and medical masks, which are mandatory to wear during the COVID 19 pandemic, create visual barrier, obscure linguistic and nonverbal communication and interaction. Ski-slope hearing loss patients often don't admit their auditory insufficiency and do not use hearing aids due to acceptable speech intelligibility by using visual access to the mouth and other potential facial cues. To assess the impact of universal face medical masks in public places on motivation to using hearing aids of patients with ski-slope hearing loss. All the 504 patients (18-65 years old), who applied for < hearing care assistance and for the first time bought hearing aid were included. 266 patients (group A) applied from June to November 2020, when wearing facial masks was mandatory; 238 patients (group B) applied from June to November 2019, when wearing facial masks wasn't required. In both groups patients, who fulfilled the following criteria, were selected: 1) binaural mild to severe sensorineural ski-slope hearing loss lasting more than 3 years; 2) no progression of hearing loss within the last 3 years; 3) pure tone audiometry <20 dB HL at 125-1000 Hz frequencies; 4) hearing care with mono- or binaural hearing aids with the receiver-in-the-canal open-type. Questionnaires were administered to eligible patients in group A to assess the motivational components of acquiring hearing aids. In group A, 74 (28%) patients received hearing aids according to the inclusion criteria, and in group B, 46 (19%) patients received hearing aids (p=0.033). Significant factors determining hearing aid acquisition were lack of visual contact when wearing a mask, communication difficulties in noisy environments and lack of intelligibility in a concert hall or lecture. Patients' motivation to hearing care grows in mandatory wearing facial masks conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic leading to an increase in patients using hearing aids.

Experiences of Hearing Loss and Audiological Rehabilitation for Older Adults With Comorbid Psychological Symptoms: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose There is a well-established relationship between hearing loss and psychological symptoms. To ensure audiological rehabilitation is provided appropriately for older adults with comorbid psychological symptoms, a greater understanding of their preferences and experiences is needed. This study sought to understand experiences of hearing loss and audiological rehabilitation from the perspective of older adults with comorbid psychological symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, psychosis). Design A qualitative study using in-depth semistructured interviews was conducted with older adults who had attended audiological rehabilitation within the last year and scored above established cutoffs on measures of depression, anxiety, and psychosis. A thematic analysis generated themes that related to participants' experiences of hearing loss and audiological rehabilitation. Results Participants included 14 older adults (eight men and six women) with an average age of 70.5 years (SD = 4.45, range: 64-80) who received hearing aids or a cochlear implant. Three major themes emerged from the analysis of participant interviews. "The cumulative impact of hearing loss and psychological symptoms" theme describes the two-way, additive relationship between hearing ability and psychological symptoms. "The experience of loss throughout hearing loss and audiological rehabilitation" captures subjective losses, the impact they have, and how participants cope with them. In contrast, "The experience of gain throughout hearing loss and audiological rehabilitation" describes the participants' reported gains, their related impacts, and coping strategies. Conclusions The experiences of participants revealed that the presence of comorbid psychological symptoms can influence the experience of hearing loss and audiological rehabilitation. These findings have implications for how audiological rehabilitation is provided to ensure optimal outcomes for adults with hearing loss and comorbid psychological symptoms. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12985955.

Auditory Intervention in Late-Identified Children With Hearing Loss

This study examined the effects of a 9-week auditory intervention on the auditory skills of five children with hearing loss who experienced prolonged auditory deprivation before receiving hearing aids. A single-case multiple baseline design across participants was used to examine the effect of the intervention on the children’s auditory skills using a weekly probe. The analyses showed a moderate to high intervention effect for three out of five participants. Children demonstrated gains in detection, discrimination, and identification, and Participant 5 also showed gains in sentence comprehension. Findings provide preliminary support for offering auditory intervention to children with hearing loss who are late identified and aided in the presence of residual hearing.

Patient safety and the annulment of medical clearance exams for hearing aids: Are we “closing the book” too soon?

To determine the utility of medical clearance exams by otolaryngologists prior to the distribution of hearing aids to patients with hearing loss. Medical records of 313 consecutive hearing-impaired individuals seeking financial assistance for hearing aids from the Lions Hearing Center of Michigan and who presented for medical clearance exams between January 2014 and May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Separate determinations were made for each patient about (1) benefit from the exam and (2) avoidance of significant harm. Majority (64.2%; n=201) of patients benefited from medical clearance exams. Furthermore, 5.4% of patients (n=17) were found to have avoided significant harm due to administration of the medical clearance exam. Finally, 14.4% (n=45) were offered alternative interventions over conventional hearing aids. Medical clearance exams are beneficial to a majority of patients with hearing loss prior to receiving hearing aids. With the impending arrival of over-the-counter hearing aids in the United States, special consideration should be placed on educating the general public about the importance of the medical evaluation prior to purchasing any type of hearing aid.

Long-term treatment outcomes in children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD)

IntroductionThe present article shows long-term results in the hearing and speech development of children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD). Some children were followed up for nearly 20 years, monitoring their progress through childhood into adulthood. MethodsThis retrospective study examined data from 10 children who were diagnosed and treated at our tertiary referral center. All children were provided with hearing aids and/or cochlear implants. The children's hearing and speech development and their social and educational development were evaluated. ResultsSeven children were provided with cochlear implants on both sides; three children, one of which had single-sided deafness, received hearing aids. All children with cochlear implants on both sides used their devices full-time. Speech perception ranged between 100% and 0% on one side. Five children attended a school for the hearing impaired; four children attended a regular school. Four children attended vocational training. ConclusionsAt present, there is a lack of literature on the long-term outcomes of treatment in children with ANSD. The data presented show that the hearing and speech development in children with ANSD are significantly heterogeneous. Regular school education and social integration of children with ANSD can be achieved with intensive and supportive rehabilitative methods.

Cognition and benefit obtained with hearing aids: a study in elderly people.

To verify the effects of cognition on the benefit obtained with the use of hearing aids and on the quality of life of elderly people with hearing loss. 17 elderly people with moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) bilateral were evaluated. The elderly people were divided into two groups according to the results of 10-point cognitive screening 10-CS: G1- seven elderly people without change and G2-10 elderly people with a suggestive result of cognitive alteration. Study protocol: self-evaluation questionnaire - (Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE)), geriatric depression scale (GDS), quality of life questionnaire - (Short-Form 36 (SF36)) and evaluation of the listening effort through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). After the evaluation, the elderly people received hearing aids. After three months of effective amplification, the protocol was reapplied with the inclusion of the International Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Hearing Aids - (IOI-HA). The sample was characterized according to age, schooling, Critério de Classificação Econômico Brasil Associação Brasileira das Empresas de Pesquisa (ABEP), degree of loss, Índice Percentual de Reconhecimento da Fala (IPRF) and Speech Intelligibility Index (SII) of the ear with better audibility. The statistical study revealed that there was significant difference only in relation to age. The comparative study before and after the intervention revealed a significant improvement in the 10-CS scores in the group G2, in the participation restriction - HHIE, in the listening effort and in some areas of the SF36. There was no difference in QI-AASI between groups second the factor 1, factor 2 and Total Score. There was improvement of the quality of life after three months of amplification use. There was no effect of cognition on the benefit obtained with the use of hearing aids.

Prevalence, risk factors and management strategies for otological problems in girls with Turner syndrome.

To determine the prevalence and risk factors of ear disease in Turner syndrome (TS), propose an algorithm for future surveillance and recommend preventative strategies. Review of TS patients seen in the West of Scotland between 1989 and 2015, with questionnaire follow-up in 2015. Of 168 girls, median age 27.3 (3.8-47.2) years, ear problems occurred more frequently with 45,X and 45,X/46,XiXq than other karyotypes: 71/103 (69%) versus 23/65 (35%). Recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) first developed at 0-5years in 23 (40%) girls, persisting in 16 (10%) at 5-10years; and first developing at 5-10years in 11 (7%). Persistent otitis media with effusion (OME) first developed at 0-5 and 5-10years in 23 (40%) and 14 (8%) girls. Recurrent AOM was significantly linked with cholesteatoma in 8 (4.9%) girls (7 aged >10years). Permanent hearing loss was documented in 28 girls (16.7%), with 16 (9.5%) receiving hearing aids (bone-anchored in 3). Acute otitis media and OME occur commonly in preschool TS girls and may persist or newly develop in later childhood. Recurrent AOM predisposes to cholesteatoma. Strategies to reduce otological morbidity include: intensive patient education, annual audiology, vaccinations and a randomised trial of antibiotic prophylaxis in high-risk groups.

Assessment of Hearing Aids Outcomes for Patients With Hearing Loss

Background: Age-related hearing loss is a vital problem that impacts daily living including communication, socialization, and wellbeing. To be fitted with appropriate hearing aids can certainly improve quality of life. Therefore, it is essential to develop a set of indicators that will be used to measure hearing aids outcomes.&#x0D; Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of hearing-aid outcomes and to examine common hearing aid problems.&#x0D; Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of 634 patients receiving hearing aids services at Ramathibodi Hospital from July 2015 to June 2016, was performed. Data were collected using a data collection form and were examined by conducting descriptive analysis and paired t tests. Common hearing aid problems were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.&#x0D; Results: Of 634 patients receiving hearing aids services, the average hearing thresholds and speech recognition scores among with and without hearing aids, across a range of hearing loss, were statistically significant (P &lt; .01). Patients’ satisfaction on hospital services, and on hearing aids were 4.64 and 4.34, respectively. Common hearing aid problems were communication strategy, hearing aid manipulation, and routine maintenance of hearing aids and/or ear molds.&#x0D; Conclusions: Patients receiving hearing aids services from Ramathibodi Hospital reported better speech sound hearing and communication. They were satisfied with hospital services and hearing aids on defined indicators.

Perception of Mandarin Chinese vowels in young hearing-impaired and normal-hearing children

The study investigated the perception of Mandarin Chinese vowels of 45 congenital hearing-impaired and 45 normal-hearing children aged 4 to 6. There were 30 children at each age group, half of which were hearing-impaired children. All of the hearing-impaired children received hearing aids or cochlear implants before the age of 5. In a picture identification task, listeners identified the target consonant-vowel word among 2–4 contrastive words. The target words and the other contrastive words differed only in consonants. Each target word represented a concrete object and was spoken by a young female native-Chinese talker. Sixteen of the target words ended with monophthong, twenty-two with diphthong and nine with triphthong. Age showed a significant effect on vowel perception for both groups. Normal-hearing children showed significantly better identification of all three types of vowels than hearing-impaired children at the age of 6, whereas the two groups had comparable performance at age of 4 and 5. For hearing-impaired children, a rapid development of diphthong perception occurred between 4 and 5 years old, while a rapid development of monophthong perception between 5 and 6. The effect of hearing loss severity and the use of hearing aids or cochlear implants will be discussed.

Diagnosis and management of conductive hearing loss in children with trisomy 21.

The objective of this study is to review the prevalence and degree of hearing loss in children with trisomy 21, their response to intervention and the presence of concomitant pathologies. The project will also highlight the experiences of the children from their parents' and guardians' perspective and the link between perceived service quality and an objective improvement in their hearing after rehabilitation. All patients with trisomy 21 who were referred to district general otolaryngology outpatient clinics between 2014 and 2016 were included. A retrospective analysis of the medical notes and audiograms along with a qualitative questionnaire to the children's parents was utilised to gather the information. The study showed that 77% (17/22) of children suffered from hearing loss, with a moderate degree being most prevalent. The majority of patients (14/17, 82%) were managed conservatively, undergoing a period of watchful waiting (9/17, 53%) or receiving hearing aids (5/17, 30%) and 3 of 17 (17%) were managed with grommet insertion. The improvement in hearing with hearing aids was comparable with grommet insertion and hearing aids scored highest in the post-intervention qualitative assessment with grommet insertion scoring the lowest. Functional hearing has been shown to be key in developing speech and language skills. In children with trisomy 21, behavioural and anatomical abnormalities make the diagnosis and intervention technically more challenging. This study demonstrates that in the absence of other otological symptoms, hearing loss can be managed effectively and with the least distress to the children with hearing aids.

Hearing Aids as a Treatment for Tinnitus Patients with Slight to Mild Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Persons with clinically significant tinnitus also may have mild sensorineural hearing loss (MSNHL). The purpose of this study was to describe patients with tinnitus and MSNHL and factors predicting hearing-aid uptake (HAU). We conducted a retrospective chart review with regression modeling of patients presenting to a specialty tinnitus clinic over a 2.5-year period. Stepwise logistic regression on data from patient charts was conducted. Of 133 patients seen, two-thirds had MSNHL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 58.9-75.0; mean age = 53.4 years; standard deviation = 14.5); approximately 50% had severe-to-catastrophic tinnitus. Logistic regression indicated that four-frequency pure-tone average (FFPTA; left) ( β = 0.3899, χ2 = 10.96, degrees of freedom [DF] = 1, p = 0.0009) and age ( β = 0.1273, χ2 = 4.86, DF = 1, p = 0.0274) were positively associated with HAU; tinnitus severity was inversely related ( β = - 1.0533, χ2 = 4.24, DF = 1, p = 0.0395). Adjusting for key variables, odds of receiving hearing aids was 1.14 (95% CI: 1.01-1.27) times higher with every year increase in age, 1.48 (95% CI: 1.17-1.86) times higher per one point increase in FFPTA (left), and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.13-0.95) times less per one point increase in tinnitus severity score. Reasons why HAU was not high for this special sample of young adults with severe tinnitus and MSNHL are discussed; hearing aid treatment requires extensive counseling and follow-up for this population.

State of deaf children in West Bengal, India: What can be done to improve outcome

ObjectivePrelingual deafness in children demands urgent action as best outcome is dependent on earliest possible diagnosis and intervention. Objective of this study was to determine age of suspicion, diagnosis, intervention, and outcome in a representative group of deaf children in West Bengal, India, and suggest ways of improving these parameters. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, ages of suspicion, diagnosis, intervention and outcome of 303 randomly selected deaf children were elicited from a cohort of 1316 children with deafness identified in an earlier study. ResultsMedian ages of suspicion, diagnosis and amplification were 18, 72 and 84 months respectively. Age of suspicion was significantly related to parental education (p < 0.05); age of diagnosis to parental education and socio-economic status (p < 0.001) and children's geographic location (p < 0.01). Following diagnosis, 86% of children received hearing aids but only 6% used their aids consistently; 86% were non-verbal, 12% could communicate with a mixture of speech and gesture and only 2% with speech alone. ConclusionCurrent situation of deaf children in West Bengal, and evidence indicates, in much of India, is insupportable. However, widely diverse socio-economic conditions and scarcity of public health infrastructure preclude one solution of the problem for the whole country. In absence of the ideal universal newborn hearing screening, rigorously monitored and costed pilot programs of different models of early detection and intervention using newborn hearing screening, targeted screening and trial of calibrated noisemakers by primary care workers should be tried to see which works best where, so that successful programs can be scaled up over time.

Language-specific strategy for programming hearing aids — A double-blind randomized controlled crossover study

ObjectiveVoice-aligned compression (VAC) is a method used in Oticon’s hearing aids to provide more comfortable hearing without sacrificing speech discrimination. The complex, non-linear compression curve for the VAC strategy is designed based on the frequency profile of certain spoken Western languages. We hypothesized that hearing aids could be further customized for Japanese-speaking users by modifying the compression curve using the frequency profile of spoken Japanese. MethodsA double-blind randomized controlled crossover study was performed to determine whether or not Oticon’s modified amplification strategy (VAC-J) provides subjectively preferable hearing aids for Japanese-speaking hearing aid users compared to the same company’s original amplification strategy (VAC). The participants were randomized to two groups. The VAC-first group received a pair of hearing aids programmed using the VAC strategy and wore them for three weeks, and then received a pair of hearing aids programmed using VAC-J strategy and wore them for three weeks. The VAC-J-first group underwent the same study, but they received hearing aids in the reverse sequence. A Speech, Spatial and Qualities (SSQ) questionnaire was administered before beginning to use the hearing aids, at the end of using the first pair of hearing aids, and at the end of using the second pair of hearing aids. ResultsTwenty-five participants that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria from January 1 to October 31, 2016, were randomized to two groups. Twenty-two participants completed the study. There were no statistically significant differences in the increment of SSQ scores between the participants when using the VAC- or the VAC-J-programmed hearing aids. However, participants preferred the VAC-J strategy to the VAC strategy at the end of the study, and this difference was statistically significant. ConclusionJapanese-speaking hearing aid users preferred using hearing aids that were fitted with the VAC-J strategy. Our results show that the VAC strategy can be adjusted to the frequency profile of different languages and that participants expressed their subjective preference more clearly than was reflected in the SSQ scores. A similar language-specific strategy may improve user’s satisfaction while using hearing devices, and this concept may be extended to implantable hearing devices. Clinical research registration numberR000023191.

The Studying Multiple Outcomes After Aural Rehabilitative Treatment Study: Study Design and Baseline Results.

Hearing loss may affect critical domains of health and functioning in older adults. This article describes the rationale and design of the Studying Multiple Outcomes After Aural Rehabilitative Treatment (SMART) study, which was developed to determine to what extent current hearing rehabilitative therapies could mitigate the effects of hearing loss on health outcomes. One hundred and forty-five patients ≥50 years receiving hearing aids (HA) or cochlear implants (CI) were recruited from the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology-HNS. A standardized outcome battery was administered to assess cognitive, social, mental, and physical functioning. Of the 145 participants aged 50 to 94.9 years who completed baseline evaluations, CI participants had significantly greater loneliness, social isolation, and poorer hearing and communicative function compared with HA participants. This study showed that standardized measures of health-related outcomes commonly used in gerontology appear sensitive to hearing impairment and are feasible to implement in clinical studies of hearing loss.

TeleAudiology in the Veterans Health Administration.

To assess effectiveness of TeleAudiology for hearing aid services. Retrospective case-control. Ambulatory Veterans Health Administration and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). 42,697 veterans who received hearing aids from January through September, 2014. TeleAudiology (TA) and conventional in-person (IP) audiology care. International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) outcomes data. The IOI-HA is a 7-item survey used to assess hearing aid effectiveness. Scored from 7 to 35 points, higher scores are more favorable. Among veterans nationwide who received hearing aids and completed the IOI-HA survey, 1,009 received TA and 41,688 received IP care. TA and IP groups have comparable mean IOI-HA values (TA = 29.6, SD = 3.9; IP = 28.7, SD = 4.2). Although comparison showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001, t test), principally because of large sample size, the distinction is not clinically meaningful.Subgroup analysis of veterans from San Francisco and six affiliated CBOCs showed 169 received TA and 338 received IP care. TA and IP groups have similar mean age (TA = 74, SD = 9.8; IP = 76, SD = 10.3) and sex distribution (TA male = 100%; IP male = 96%) with statistically significant (p < 0.01, t test) but clinically insignificant differences. Mean IOI-HA scores (TA = 30.7, SD = 3.6; IP = 30.5, SD = 3.1) are not different between groups (p > 0.05, t test). TA and IP encounters to provide hearing aid services to veterans are comparable, as both are highly effective based on IOI-HA results. The noninferiority of TA suggests its adoption to non-veterans may improve access while preserving high satisfaction. Financial impact of migration to TA will require future econometric analysis.

Association of Using Hearing Aids or Cochlear Implants With Changes in Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults.

Hearing loss is a common health problem in older adults that is strongly associated with the development of depression. Previous cross-sectional studies have reported lower odds of depression among individuals who use hearing aids. However, there have been limited prospective studies investigating the effect of hearing loss treatments on depressive symptoms. To investigate the association between treatment with a hearing aid or cochlear implant with depressive symptoms in older adults. A prospective observational study was conducted of 113 participants 50 years or older who received hearing aids (n = 63) or cochlear implants (n = 50). Participants were recruited from August 1, 2011, to January 31, 2014, at a tertiary care academic center. Hearing aid or cochlear implantation. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after intervention. The score ranges from 0 to 15, and various scores between 3 and 10 have been used as being suggestive of depression. The median age of the 113 study participants was 69.6 years (interquartile range, 63.5-77.4 years). At baseline, the mean GDS score for the participants was 41% lower (95% CI, 7%-63%) among those receiving hearing aids (mean score, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.7-3.3) compared with those receiving cochlear implants (mean score, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.3-5.1). Cochlear implant recipients' GDS scores improved from baseline to 6 months after treatment by 31% (95% CI, 10%-47%) and from baseline to 12 months after treatment by 38% (95% CI, 18%-54%). Hearing aid recipients' GDS scores improved by 28% (95% CI, 0%-48%) at 6 months after treatment but were not significantly different from baseline at 12 months after treatment (16%; 95% CI, -24% to 43%). There was a significant improvement in depressive symptoms at 6 months after treatment for patients receiving cochlear implants and hearing aids; this improvement persisted to 12 months for those who received cochlear implants. Further research is warranted to assess the long-term effect of hearing rehabilitation on mental health in older adults.

Lessons from LOCHI.

Lessons from LOCHI.