Investigation of the effect of hearing aid on hearing disability in elderly people with presbycusis

Aim: To determine the effect of hearing aid on the level of hearing disability in elderly patients with presbycusis.Methods: A hearing handicap inventory scale (HHI) was applied to 43 patients with presbycusis over the age of 65 years (mean age: 73.44 ± 7.03 years, range: 65-89 years, male: 26, female: 17) six months before using the hearing aid and 6 months after starting to use the hearing aid. HHI scores were compared before and after hearing aid. Results: HHI scores (22.51 ± 14.81) after hearing aid use were significantly lower compared to HHI scores before hearing aid (68.97 ± 16.97) (p=0.000). There was no significant difference between HHI score gains obtained after hearing aids according to gender (p=0.737). There was no significant difference between HHI score gains obtained after hearing aids in patients with profound and severe hearing loss and the scores of the patients with moderate and moderate to severe hearing loss (p=0.521). Conclusion: The hearing aid significantly reduces the level of auditory disability in elderly individuals.