Hearing-aid use and benefit: a long-term follow-up in patients undergoing surgery for otosclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to assess hearing-aid uptake in patients with otosclerosis 28-30 years after stapedectomy and to evaluate hearing-aid benefit to users.

DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed; it included a review of medical records and follow-up 28-30 years after surgery, including audiometry, clinical examination, structured interview, and a validated questionnaire, IOI-HA.

STUDY SAMPLE: Sixty-five patients, who had undergone stapedectomy at a tertiary referral center in 1977-79.

RESULTS: In 95% of the subjects there was a theoretical need for hearing-aid amplification at follow-up; 46% of the subjects had no hearing aids, while 26% had unilateral and 28% bilateral hearing aids. Hearing sensitivity in the best ear predicted hearing-aid uptake. Of the subjects with a hearing aid, 94% were everyday users and 54% were full-time users (> 8 hours/day). The subjects reported a high level of satisfaction (mean 4.5) and benefit (mean 4.2), but also residual activity limitations (mean 3.1).

CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that there is an unmet need for long-term hearing rehabilitation among patients previously undergoing surgery for otosclerosis. The patients who were using hearing aids were generally very satisfied with their hearing aids, but they still reported residual activity limitations.