PP107 - Overlooked Facts Regarding Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Dementia

Abstract:
In recent years studies have shown dementia risk reduction with properly programmed hearing aids and validation protocols. While news of these finding is touted by the media and clinicians, much less attention is paid to the programming characteristics and test protocols necessary to achieve said benefits. Such oversight is problematic as national studies have shown real-ear verified target matching and validation procedures are often abandoned or misunderstood. Further, the positive findings in several studies only apply when strict adherence to testing and validation protocols are followed. 

This session examines the necessary criteria to achieve such positive findings.

Summary:
Four often-cited studies have shown a positive risk-ratio reduction in dementia and related cognitive issues associated with properly-programmed and validated hearing aids on persons with hearing loss.

Rationale
Unfortunately, the programming and validation protocols associated with said cognitive benefits are rarely discussed and often abandoned as shown in several national studies. Specifically, studies have shown that real-ear verified target matching is the exception not the rule in the fitting of hearing aids on adults and children in the United States. Further testing protocols that validate said hearing aid benefits are often misunderstood or abandoned.

Purpose
This session will examine the specific details of each of four often-cited studies highlighting what is required by these studies to achieve said benefits both in terms of real-ear aided target matching and speech-in-noise testing protocols. A checklist of testing and validation protocols will be provided.

Methods
The testing and validation protocols of these four studies were extracted from each study showing the specific criteria that must be met for the reported reduction of dementia risk which includes employing real-ear aided target matching and speech in noise validation protocols. A national literature review was conducted on Medline identifying those articles showing the likelihood of real ear-aided measures and speech in noise protocols being employed in clinics throughout the United States.

Results and Conclusions
From the foregoing discussion, it will be shown that the positive outcomes associated with proper hearing aid programming and validation that have been shown in these four studies to reduce dementia risk ratio are rarely employed at a national level. This session will highlight those testing and validation protocols that must be followed to achieve the favorable dementia risk reduction reported, and discuss some of the pitfalls associated with following these testing/validation protocols in terms of patient compliance and patient self-reported hearing aid satisfaction.