Predictors of hearing aid use time in children with mild-to-severe hearing loss.

PURPOSE

This study investigated predictors of hearing aid (HA) use time for children with mild-to-severe hearing loss (HL). Barriers to consistent HA use and reliability of parent report measures were also examined.

METHOD

Participants included parents of 272 children with HL. Parents estimated the amount of time the child used HAs daily. Regression analysis examined the relationships among independent variables and HA use time. To determine parental accuracy of HA use time, datalogging from the HAs was compared to the parents' estimates.

RESULTS

Longer HA use related to older age, poorer hearing, and higher maternal education. Parental consistency ratings revealed similar findings--younger children and children with milder HL wore HAs less consistently than older children and children with more severe HL. Parents' estimates and datalogging were significantly correlated; however, results suggested that parents overestimate the amount of time their children wear their HAs.

CONCLUSION

Certain variables were significantly related to the amount of time children wore their HAs. Consistency rating scales provided insight into circumstances that were challenging for families. Use of both parent reports and datalogging may allow clinicians and researchers to obtain a general estimate of HA use time.