Comparison between the Satisfaction level of Digital and Analog hearing aid users

ABSTRACT Hearing loss is the most common disability, affecting more than 250 million people in the world. Hearing aid helps to amplify the residual hearing. OBJECTIVE: To carry out the comparison between the satisfaction level of digital and analog hearing aid users METHODS: This comparative study was conducted at various private clinics and hospitals of Lahore from November 2017 to April 2018. Atotal of 100 patients were included of which 50 were digital hearing aid users and50 patients were analog hearing aid users. RESULTS: In our study (52%) digital hearing aid users used the hearing aid for more than eight hours a day and most analog hearing aid users (40%) used it for four to eight hours a day. 66% of digital hearing aid users had no difficulty whereas 40% of analog hearing aid users had moderate difficulty when they wanted to hear better. 58% people were not bothered at all by digital hearing aid users and 12% were not bothered by analog hearing aid users. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded from this study that digital hearing aid users seem to be more satisfied with their hearing aids as compared to analog hearing aid users. So whenever possible people with hearing impairment should be fitted with digital hearing aids to get better results and hence improve their quality of life. Keywords: Satisfaction, Digital hearing aid, Analog hearing aid