Download Severe to profound hearing impairment: Factors associated with the

Severe to profound hearing impairment: Factors associated with the use of Hearing aids and Cochlear implants and
participation in Extended audiological rehabilitation
Jennie Hjaldahl1, Stephen Widén2 and Per-Inge Carlsson3
1Swedish Institute For Disability Research/ University Health Care Research Centre, Örebro University, School Of
Health And Medical Sciences/ Örebro University Hospital, Örebro
2Swedish Institute For Disability Research, Örebro University, School Of Health And Medical Sciences , Örebro
3Audiological Research Center/ Department Of Otorhinolaryngology, Örebro University Hospital/ Central Hospital,
Karlstad, Örebro/Karlstad
Patients with severe to profound hearing loss often require extended audiological rehabilitation. Rehabilitation for patients with
severe to profound hearing loss may include technical rehabilitation such as Hearing Aids (HA) and Cochlear implants (CI).
Extended audiological rehabilitaiton reqires involvment from different professions from the audiological department (The
National Board of Health and Welfare, 2012). The aim of this study was to determine whether various demographic variables
are associated to HA and CI use, and participation in extended audiological rehabilitation among patients with severe to
profound hearing loss and to compare the use of unilateral and bilateral HAs.
Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to analyze general HA use, binaural HA use, CI use and participation in
extended audiological rehabilitation. A total of 2297 adult patients from The Swedish Quality Register of Otorhinolaryngology
with a PTA4 (0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz) ≥70 dB Hearing Level in the better ear were included.
The results showed that degree of hearing loss was associated with HA and CI use and participation in extended audiological
rehabilitation. The patients with at least a college degree were more likely to use bilateral HAs, have a CI and participate in
audiological rehabilitation compared to those with lower education level. The sex distribution was evenly divided, but the men
indicated a lower level of participation in extended audiological rehabilitation. The results showed that patients with higher
education level were more likely to have a HA, a CI or participate in extended audiological rehabilitation. No significant
associations where found for sex and HA or CI use.
In conclusion, the degree of hearing loss was the strongest factor associated with the use of HAs, CI and extended
audiological rehabilitation among the patients. Education level and sex were two factors that were associated with the
use/participation in audiological rehabilitaiton.