Analyzing the Relationship Between Real-Ear Measures, the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit, and Hearing Aid Retention

Purpose: Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic conditions in adults aged 65 years or older. Despite the variety of hearing devices and services offered today, few individuals with hearing loss purchase and use hearing aids. For individuals who do obtain hearing aids as a treatment for hearing loss, an estimated 3%–16% of prescription hearing aid purchases are returned, and an estimated 30%–50% of over-the-counter hearing aids are returned. This study aimed to explore factors related to hearing aid retention: an objective measure; real-ear measures (REMs); and a subjective measure of self-perceived benefit, the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB). Method: This study analyzed REM ( n = 512) and APHAB ( n = 532) questionnaire responses obtained from a previously conducted multisite randomized controlled trial to examine the relationship between these measures and hearing aid retention. Participants were separated into three groups: one following a best-practice audiologist-fit method and two following experimental self-fit (person-fit) methods. Results: The overall return rate for participants in this study was approximately 9%. REM and global APHAB results were not predictive of hearing aid returns, but the APHAB subscales Communication and Background Noise were predictive of hearing aid retention. Real-ear aided responses did not differ significantly between groups, and all group participants reported similar benefit from their hearing aids. Conclusions: There was no association between hearing aid retention and either REM or global APHAB results. Other factors such as comfort and compatibility with daily activities may have driven the decision to return the hearing aids.