Self-reported outcomes of aural rehabilitation for adult hearing aid users in a South African context

Abstract

Hearing impairment has far-reaching consequences for affected individuals, in terms of quality of life indicators. In the public health care sector of South Africa the hearing-impaired population is faced with limited aural rehabilitation services. This study evaluated self-reported outcomes of aural rehabilitation in a group of adults in the public health care sector with a standardised outcomes measurement tool (IOI-HA). Sixty-one participants were included (44% male; sample mean age 69.7 years) through face-to-face or telephonic interviews. Results revealed that the average perceived outcome of participants (5 = best outcome; 1 = poorest outcome) was positive across all domains of the inventory including daily use of hearing aids (4.3); benefits provided by hearing aids (4.3); residual activity limitation (3.9); satisfaction with hearing aids (4.5); residual participation restriction (4.0); impact of hearing difficulties on others (4.6); and changes in quality of life (4.5). Statistically significant relationships for daily use of hearing aids, degree of hearing loss, type of hearing aids fitted, and the perceived benefit from hearing aids in difficult listening environments (p<0.05) were evident. Adult aural rehabilitation for hearing loss in a public health care facility, even without optimal hearing aid fittings, was effective in providing positive perceived outcomes comparable to similar studies in developed countries. The findings advocate for the initiation of affordable and sustainable aural rehabilitation services in developing countries despite apparent resource limitations.