How to improve audiology services : the patient perspective

Abstract

Hearing aids are a common management option in audiological rehabilitation, but hearing aid use remains low, as only 17% of people who need the devices use them. This is particularly concerning with nearly 2.5 billion people estimated to have some degree of hearing loss by 2050, and of whom at least 30% will require rehabilitation services. Hearing loss treatment is increasingly indicating pervasive positive effects extending beyond only improving hearing to enhancing a person’s well-being—whether cognitive, socio-emotional, or physical—such as protecting from or slowing down cognitive decline, lowering the risk of depression, and ultimately improving quality of life.