PP106 - Listening-Related Fatigue and Social Activity Levels Following Hearing Aid Fittings in Adults

Due to the increased levels of cognitive effort spent in complex listening environments, people with hearing loss report more listening-related fatigue (LRF) than those without hearing loss. LRF is also associated with many adverse consequences such as altered behavior (i.e., social disengagement), negative emotions, and reduced quality of life (Holman et al., 2019, Davis et al., 2020). Recent evidence suggests adults with hearing loss experience a reduction in LRF and an increase in social activity level (SAL) after they are fitted with hearing aids (HA) (Holman et al., 2021). Factors not accounted for by Holman et al. include HA dosage and perceived HA benefit. It is plausible that HA dosage and perceived benefit may moderate the amount of change in LRF and SAL after HA fitting. The purpose of this study is to understand how HA dosage and perceived benefit moderate the effect of HA fitting on LRF and SAL.

Participants were adult patients with documented hearing loss who are treated at the our university’s speech and hearing clinic. Participants were divided into two groups: control and experimental. Those in the control group were existing HA users with at least one year of HA experience, while those in the experimental group were first-time HA users. The outcome measures used in this study were three self-reported questionnaires that addressed HA benefit (Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit; Cox & Alexander, 1995), SAL (Social Activity Log; Syrjala et al., 2010), and LRF (Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale; Hornsby et al., 2021). This study consisted of three visits: (1) pre-fitting or during a routine follow-up appointment for the control group, (2) four weeks later for both groups, and (3) eight weeks after the first visit for both groups.

Data collection for this study is ongoing and will continue through February 2024. Eleven participants have completed the study (n = 6 control; n = 5 experimental), with five additional participants currently enrolled. Group means of preliminary data from completed participants suggest that, upon study entry, our participants were not experiencing LRF (average LRF score < 12 for both groups) or leading very social lives (average SAL score < 3 for both groups). Because of these low levels of LRF and SAL, only minimal changes across time were identified. With the full study data, we will examine the differences in LRF and SAL changes between groups and the relationships between HA dosage and HA benefit on these changes. Other participant characteristics (e.g., age, duration of hearing loss) will also be considered. If data trends hold with the full data set, our findings would suggest that there is a subset of adults with hearing loss who do not experience LRF or engage in regular social activity. For these patients, clinicians should consider whether LRF and SAL are a worthwhile measure of HA benefit. Instead, setting and monitoring progress towards individualized goals for the patient based on their lifestyle may be a better use of clinical time.