Success of hearing aid fitting in nursing homes.

A program is described for providing aural rehabilitation and hearing aid services in nursing homes. Results are summarized for these activities in one 55-bed nursing home during a two-year period. During that time, 25 residents were identified as potential hearing aid candidates, but only four from this group would participate in a hearing aid trial. Only two of the four ultimately became regular hearing aid users. Implications of these findings are discussed and positive benefits are described. However, it is recommended that unless better results can be obtained with other methods, then hearing professionals may be well advised to devote the majority of their efforts in attempts to help the large number of hearing-impaired persons who are not residing in nursing homes.