Aural Rehabilitation in a Teaching Hospital: Evaluation and Results

Abstract

More than 1,000 hearing-impaired adults who underwent hearing aid evaluations in a teaching hospital were followed for a minimum of 1 year. Questionnaires, which included over 300 clinical items, were developed for computer entry by audiological staff. This data was analyzed to obtain demographic information about the population and the effectiveness of the intervention. The program was evaluated in terms of criteria ranging from simple compliance with the recommendation to purchase an aid, attendance at scheduled follow-up appointments, adequacy of the amplification system, patient competence in handling the aid, frequency and duration of aid use, and benefit in specific listening situations. It can be concluded that simple compliance figures overestimate program success. Even 1 year after purchase many patients still had practical difficulties with the aid, and use and benefit patterns were still developing. Directions for program change have been determined as measurement of success has been more critically defined and goals for rehabilitation have broadened.