A Pilot Study on the Effect of Hearing Aid Use Time and Perception of Communication Problems on Listening-Related Fatigue and Social Activity Levels of First-Time Hearing Aid Users

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to collect preliminary data that could inform future studies seeking to understand factors influencing listening-related fatigue and social activity levels (SALs) in new hearing aid users. Specifically, we sought to replicate recent findings that hearing aid fitting increases social activity and reduces listening-related fatigue in first-time users. We also aimed to investigate the effects of hearing aid use and perceived benefit on these changes to listening-related fatigue and SALs. Method: A pre- to postgroup study of treatment outcomes design was used. Data were collected from 25 adult patients with hearing loss ( M = 70.6 years). Participants were divided into a control group ( n = 15) of long-time hearing aid users and an experimental group ( n = 10) of first-time hearing aid users. Three self-reported questionnaires were used to assess perceived communication problems and hearing aid benefit (Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit), social activity (SALs), and listening-related fatigue (Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale). Experimental group participants completed questionnaires before their hearing aid fitting and at 1.5 and 3 months following the fitting. The control group completed questionnaires at similar time points. Results: Levels of listening-related fatigue and social activity were low for all participants, and no changes across time were found for either group. Hearing aid use time was generally high; however, unexpectedly low reports of daily communication problems (with and without hearing aids) found in the experimental group resulted in participants experiencing minimal benefit from their hearing aids. Individual differences in listening-related fatigue and SALs were not significantly correlated with hearing aid use time or daily communication problems. Conclusions: Results did not replicate previous findings of reduced listening-related fatigue following hearing aid fitting, likely due to our small sample size and low baseline listening-related fatigue scores. Despite nonsignificant findings for our question of hearing aid use and benefit, data reported here may be useful in the planning of future studies aimed to understand the influence of individual differences on treatment outcomes.