Pediatrics (P)
Ashley Grillis, AuD
Associate Professor
University of Mississippi Medical Center
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Madison, Mississippi
Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Shelby Barrera
Disclosure(s): No financial or nonfinancial relationships to disclose.
Jeffrey D. Carron, MD
Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program Director
University of Mississippi Medical Center
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi
Disclosure(s): MED-EL Corporation: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Establishing consistent hearing aid use is critical for children with hearing loss. Although hearing aid wear time is key to predicting outcomes, several factors can negatively impact hearing aid use in the classroom. With increased use of computer technology at school, one barrier for school aged children is the inability to use headphones while wearing hearing aids. This retrospective study examined changes of hours of hearing aid usage per day in 51 school aged children who underwent an upgrade from non-direct Bluetooth® hearing technology to direct Bluetooth®-enabled hearing technology.
Summary:
Objective: To determine if hearing aid use in school aged children is impacted when upgraded to direct Bluetooth® enabled technology.
Rationale/
Purpose: Children with hearing loss are susceptible to delays in psychoeducational and psychosocial development. Although hearing aid wear time is key to predicting outcomes, families often overestimate wear time. Most current hearing technology includes datalogging, a built-in feature that automatically records average hours of hearing aid use per day. This feature allows clinicians to track wear time more accurately and appropriately counsel families. Several factors have been identified to predict consistent wear time including maternal education level, severity of hearing loss, and increase in age. However, school aged children are susceptible to additional factors that may negatively impact hearing aid use in the classroom including an increased desire to be accepted by peers. Keilmann et al found school aged children with hearing loss demonstrated less self-confidence as they reach higher grades. Guastfon et al found hearing aid use in the classroom is influenced by degree of hearing loss and grade level, with children in later grades and those having milder hearing loss being at a higher risk for inconsistent hearing aid use. With increased use of computer technology at school, one additional barrier for consistent hearing aid use in school aged children is the inability to use headphones while wearing hearing aids. Previous connectivity options such as telecoil, neck loop systems, HAT and FM receivers are cumbersome and require the use of additional equipment. Additionally, the most current pediatric hearing aid technologies provide direct Bluetooth® (DBT) connectivity options without additional equipment, enabling children to easily connect to laptops or handheld devices for interactive school programs or view audiovisual content. The objective of this study was to determine if hearing aid use in school aged children increases when upgraded to DBT enabled technology. We hypothesized that because children are better able to connect to their devices and headphones, they would be more inclined to use their hearing aids throughout the day, resulting in an increase in hearing aid compliance. For this study, previous technology will be referred to as non-direct Bluetooth® (NDBT).
Methods: This retrospective analysis examined changes in datalogging of hours of usage per day in 51 school aged children who underwent an upgrade from non-direct Bluetooth® hearing technology to direct Bluetooth®-enabled hearing technology.
Results: Hours per day of hearing aid use in all hearing aid users significantly increased after upgrading to DBT enabled technology (6.82 vs 9.82, < .001). There were no significant differences noted in hours before and after upgrade depending on race (p=0.147), gender (p=0.887), developmental delay (p=0.749), type of hearing loss (p=0.218), and degree of hearing loss (p=0.551). However, when comparing private versus Medicaid insurance, there was noted to be a significant difference with the odds of an increase in hours of usage after upgrade being higher for those patients privately insured (OR= 1.247, p < 0.001, 95% CI 1.093-1.422).
Conclusion: Direct Bluetooth® enabled hearing technology positively impacts children’s hearing aid compliance, which has the potential improve speech and language outcomes.