Abstract: Can a low-cost assistive listening device help some of our hearing loss patients reap the health benefits of amplification? Untreated hearing loss leads to a poorer quality of life, but the majority of people with hearing loss do not wear hearing aids. Electro-acoustic analysis as well as patient satisfaction scores demonstrate that the ClearCast PAL, a novel FDA-registered wireless assistive listening device (ALD), is a high-quality, cost-effective hearing solution for patients with mild to profound hearing loss who are not using traditional hearing aids.
Summary: At the 2023 AAA Meeting, it was revealed that 70% of those purchasing an OTC hearing aid had seen an audiologist earlier but left that office without a solution for their hearing loss. As professionals, we know untreated hearing loss can increase the risk of cognitive decline, dementia, depression, anxiety, falls, and even all-cause mortality. The three main barriers to hearing aid success frequently referenced in the literature are cost, lack of accessibility, and poor patient satisfaction.
Being able to offer a simple, effective, and affordable hearing solution is critically needed in today’s challenging landscape of hearing health care needs. As we know, not every hearing loss patient is a great candidate for a hearing aid. The objective of this study is to evaluate a novel wireless assistive listening device (ALD) with regard to its electroacoustic parameters as well as to understand if patients with mild to profound hearing loss report acceptable satisfaction scores while using this ALD.
The ClearCast PAL (a new FDA-registered ALD) was evaluated using an Audioscan Axiom Hearing Aid Analyzer, measured according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) S3.22-1996 hearing aid specification standards (ANSI, 1996). The measurements included a saturated sound pressure level curve, high-frequency average full-on gain, frequency response, total harmonic distortion, equivalent input noise, and an input-output curve.
A prospective study was then undertaken. Patients with mild to profound hearing loss who did not want a hearing aid were asked to wear the device for a minimum of 30 days and complete self-reported surveys: International Outcome Inventory – Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) and Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Living (SADL), as well as a three-question satisfaction survey regarding sound quality, design, and price rated on a 10-point Likert scale.
Results: The ALD met gain and output targets previously described in the literature. All participants completed the study. On average, patients rated their satisfaction with the device with regards to sound quality ("extremely satisfied," mean 9.64), design ("very satisfied," mean 8.45), and price ("very satisfied," mean 8.72). Additional satisfaction scores will be presented against literature norms.
Conclusion: ClearCast was found to be electro-acoustically adequate and a reasonable low-cost solution to meet the needs of value- and cost-conscious patients. Patients with hearing losses ranging from mild to profound who were not using amplification via a custom hearing device due to cost considerations, dexterity issues, or other device-related challenges were overall highly satisfied. Affordable hearing devices provide an opportunity for greater numbers of people with hearing loss to access amplification and reap the cognitive, social, and emotional benefits from improved communicative abilities.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to judge whether a new low-cost assistive listening device (ALD) has adequate electro-acoustic specifications and determine if patients report adequate satisfaction scores while using the ALD.
Upon completion, participants will be able to understand how Clear Cast can be used in the counseling of test results and therefore significantly improve patient understanding.
Upon completion, participants will be able to demonstrate how to help more patients reap the myriad of health benefits from using amplification when a hearing aid is not a practical or affordable option.
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