Predicting three-month and 12-month post-fitting real-world hearing-aid outcome using pre-fitting acceptable noise level (ANL). (3rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Yu-Hsiang; Ho, Hsu-Chueh; Hsiao, Shih-Hsuan; Brummet, Ryan B.; Chipara, Octav
• Is Part Of: International journal of audiology. Volume 55:Number 5(2016:May)
• Page Start: 285
• Page End: 294
• Publication Date: 2016-05-03
• Subjects: Acceptable noise level -- hearing aid -- outcome -- international outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA) -- machine learning; Audiology -- Periodicals; Hearing disorders -- Periodicals; Deafness -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Hearing Disorders -- Periodicals; Hearing -- Periodicals; 617.8
• DOI: Http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.3109/14992027.2015.1120892
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1499-2027

Abstract

Abstract: Objective : Determine the extent to which pre-fitting acceptable noise level (ANL), with or without other predictors such as hearing-aid experience, can predict real-world hearing-aid outcomes at three and 12 months post-fitting. Design : ANLs were measured before hearing-aid fitting. Post-fitting outcome was assessed using the international outcome inventory for hearing aids (IOI-HA) and a hearing-aid use questionnaire. Models that predicted outcomes (successful vs. unsuccessful) were built using logistic regression and several machine learning algorithms, and were evaluated using the cross-validation technique. Study sample : A total of 132 adults with hearing impairment. Results : The prediction accuracy of the models ranged from 61% to 68% (IOI-HA) and from 55% to 61% (hearing-aid use questionnaire). The models performed more poorly in predicting 12-month than three-month outcomes. The ANL cutoff between successful and unsuccessful users was higher for experienced (∼18 dB) than first-time hearing-aid users (∼10 dB), indicating that most experienced users will be predicted as successful users regardless of their ANLs. Conclusions : Pre-fitting ANL is more useful in predicting short-term (three months) hearing-aid outcomes for first-time users, as measured by the IOI-HA. The prediction accuracy was lower than the accuracy reported by some previous research that used a cross-sectional design.