Hearing aid usage in occupational hearing loss claimants.

Between 1980 and 1986, the Department of Otolaryngology at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, evaluated 3,509 occupational hearing loss claimants for the Workers' Compensation Board of Ontario. Detailed information about work, medical and audiologic findings for each claimant was entered into the departmental database system. The goals of this retrospective analysis were to examine some demographic characteristics and to describe the aural rehabilitation status of this population. Most claimants had bilateral mild or moderate hearing loss but all degrees and patterns of loss occurred. Of 2,657 first-time, reliable claimants, 881 (33.2%) arrived with a hearing aid, typically a monaural, behind-the-ear fitting. Twenty percent with bilateral mild loss owned an aid whereas 38% of claimants with bilateral severe loss did not have one. Ninety percent of aid owners reported that their device was of some help. This level of satisfaction was not affected by age, degree of loss, or speech discrimination ability. Substantial usage was reported for non-work situations. Hearing aids were especially helpful for TV and in small group situations. Ultimately, 81% of all claimants were determined to be hearing aid candidates.