Self-Fitting Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Show Comparable Results to Audiologist-Fitted Aids: JAMA

USA: According to a clinical trial published in the JAMA: Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery suggests that self-fitting over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids may be an effective intervention for individuals with mild-moderate hearing loss and produce clinical outcomes similar to those of an audiologist-fitted hearing aid.

Hearing loss is a prevalent condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In a bid to improve access and affordability, OTC hearing aids became available in October 2022. However, there is limited data on the clinical effectiveness of these devices.

A randomized clinical effectiveness trial compared the clinical effectiveness of a self-fitting OTC hearing aid with remote support and a hearing aid fitted using audiologist-fitted best practices. The study involved 64 adults with self-perceived mild to moderate hearing loss who were randomly assigned to either the self-fitting or the audiologist-fitted group.

Participants completed a 2-week, take-home field trial without any support. Access to fine-tuning for both groups was only available after the 2-week trial. Support and adjustment were provided remotely for the self-fitting group per request and by the audiologist for the audiologist-fitted group. Participants were then reassessed after an additional 4-week take-home trial.

The trial revealed the following clinical findings:

1. 1.No significant age or 4-frequency pure-tone average differences were found.
2. 2.After the 2-week trial, the self-fitting group had an initial advantage in the self-reported Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) and International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA).
3. 3.No significant difference was found between the groups at the end of the 6-week trial on any outcome measures.

The study concludes that self-fitting OTC hearing aids with remote support yielded outcomes at 6 weeks post-fitting comparable to those of hearing aids fitted using audiologist best practices.

The researchers of the study added that “The availability of OTC hearing aids provides a new option for those with hearing loss who may not have access to an audiologist or may not be able to afford traditional hearing aids. The study's results may also help to alleviate some concerns about the effectiveness of self-fitting OTC hearing aids.”

Reference:

De Sousa KC, Manchaiah V, Moore DR, Graham MA, Swanepoel DW. Effectiveness of an Over-the-Counter Self-fitting Hearing Aid Compared With an Audiologist-Fitted Hearing Aid: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online April 13, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2023.0376