2023/12/27 by Morgado, Filipa, Caetano, Gonçalo, Gaspar, Andrea +5
#Elderly #Hearing aids #Presbycusis #Quality of life
paper · doi:10.34631/sporl.2056
Objectives: To evaluate the impact of hearing aids (HA) on the quality of life of patients with presbycusis and identify the causes for not using them. Study design: Retrospective cohort. Materials and methods: The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) was applied to patients with presbycusis, with indication for HA, followed in the ENT Service of a tertiary hospital between 2021 and 2022. Patients who did not use HA answered the closed question “Why don't you use HA?”. Results: Ninety-nine patients were included in the study, 47% of which were HA users. In the group of HA users, the average score for HHIE decreased from 24 to 7 points after use. The group of patients who did not use HA pointed out economic problems (46%) as the main reason for not using it. Conclusion: Our study confirmed the benefit of HA on quality of life and that limited financial resources are the main reason for non-use.