Wednesday, November 29, 2000

New study shows benefits of hearing aids

By ANDREW WAITS
Clinical Audiologist

The Journal of the American Medical Association in its Oct. 11 issue carried a precedent-setting article which reported findings from the first carefully controlled, multi-center clinical trial of hearing aids.

The double-blinded study was conducted at eight VA medical centers on 360 patients with sensorineural hearing loss (nerve deafness). Among the key findings were that all three types of hearing aids used in the study substantially helped users in both quiet and noisy conditions.

Compared to the unaided condition, subjects were found to have significantly improved speech recognition and reduced communication problems, such as interference from background noise.

"A lot of people with hearing loss, especially older persons, are told that they have to learn to live with it, that nothing can be done," said Lucille Beck, PhD, director of audiology and speech pathology at one VA medical center. "Primary-care doctors will benefit from knowing that hearing aids are an effective treatment for many patients, especially those with mild to moderate hearing loss."