Audiological profile of first-time hearing aid users - implications for the development of a fast-track fitting protocol.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the feasibility of implementing a fast-track process (single-session assess-and-fit appointment with no ENT specialist's examination) in hearing rehabilitation by investigating the accuracy of the protocol assignment applying various cut-off criteria and describing the audiometric profile of patients being evaluated for their first hearing aids.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Study sample: Patients from a single institution (n = 1807, median age 75 years, IQR 67-82 years) undergoing the evaluation for their first hearing aid fitting.

Results: There were no audiometric signs warranting further diagnostic evaluation in 1259 subjects (69.7%). These subjects could be identified using a single criterion: the average threshold difference between the ears in the frequencies from 0.5 to 4 kHz less than 10 dB. Age was found to be a good predictor for the success of a single-session evaluation and fitting, with a cut-off value of 75 years. Altogether, 593 persons (32.8%) were candidates for a fast-track process. The time-saving from a single-session process was estimated to be 1.0%.

Conclusions: It is feasible to have a fast-track hearing aid fitting protocol. Patients can be preselected with excellent accuracy using a single audiometric criterion and an age limit of 75. Time savings for a single-session process are insignificant.