[Handling skills and utilization of hearing aids].

Seven hundred and fifty adult patients possessing hearing aids were interviewed with regard to utilization and handling skills. Although 71% were full-time users and 18% were part-time users, only 32% could handle their aids competently. Inhabitants of the county's major town clearly managed their aids better than residents of the remainder of the catchment area, despite the fact that 85% of the former group never sought counselling by hearing therapists. It is concluded that not only the traditional audiology professions, but also staff from other branches of the health and social services should participate more actively in the care of the hearing impaired.