PP322 - Can Naïve Consumers Accurately Self-Validate Hearing Aid Performance by Taking a Tablet-Based Listening Test?

Abstract:
This proof-of-concept research investigated if self-assessed scores from the tablet-based Home Listening Test accurately reflect measured performance. If a high level of agreement is present, this test could be used as a method to self-validate the benefit provided by over-the-counter hearing aids. Binaural amplification users with mild to moderate SNHL completed the tablet-based with and without hearing aids providing self-assessed and ranked listening difficulty. Performance was also scored by study personnel. Statistical analyses compared participants against measured scores in each condition ranked listening difficulty.

Summary:
With recent FDA approval of over-the-counter hearing aids for individuals 18 years and older with a perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, the determination of the need for hearing devices for communication assistance shifted from a largely evidence-based approach with audiometric thresholds serving as the gold standard to a subjective, perceptual, and self-evaluated decision-making process. While older individuals can accurately identify the presence of hearing loss if asked the right questions Nondahl et al., 1997; Sindhusake et al., 2001), it is unknown whether self-reported hearing difficulties are identified more frequently than those through audiometric evaluations (Hannula et al., 2011). Similarly, with an OTC hearing healthcare delivery system now established consumers must have methods of evaluating self-perceived benefits from their hearing devices. Factors beyond listening environments such as hearing aid function, auditory system integrity, personality and cognitive capacity can impact self-reported outcome data of hearing aids (Cox et al., 2007; Ng et al., 2013). Therefore, consumers with no prior hearing aid experience may initially incorrectly estimate expected improvements.

Research suggests some self-fitting methods of OTC hearing aids can yield similar outcomes to fitting methods performed by professionals (Urbanski et al., 2021; DeSousa et al., 2023). However, there is no current standardized objective method that can be completed at home by consumers to determine if self-assessed speech benefit is provided in background noise. The purpose of this is to determine if self-assessed scores from the Home Listening Test could be used to predict hearing aid benefits. The Home Listening Test is a tablet-based speech-in-noise test in which words and background noise are simultaneously presented. The findings of this study help determine whether the Home Listening Test could be used as an at-home screening method for OTC hearing aid users to validate self-perceived hearing device benefits.

Research participants with bilateral mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss recently fitted with binaural amplification at the Mayo Clinic in Florida were recruited. Participants were instructed to adjust an iPad’s output volume to a comfortable volume level while listening with their hearing aids to the Home Listening Test. Once a comfortable volume level was selected, participants repeated the words presented, predicted their score, and ranked their listening difficulty. The Home Listening Test was completed again at the same volume with the hearing aids removed. Again, participants repeated the words presented, predicted their score, and ranked their listening difficulty. Research staff scored the actual percentage of words repeated correctly for both trials

Results will be presented that compare participants' and actual performance for each trial. Additionally, the self-perceived listening effort between the two trials will be discussed. The findings from this research project assist in establishing the Home Listening Test as a useful tool for OTC hearing aid consumers to use to determine the benefit from their hearing devices.