Article

We designed this noninferiority randomized trial to determine (1) if group
hearing aid fitting visits and group hearing aid follow-up visits were at least
as effective as individual visits in terms of hearing-related function (measured
with the Inner Effectiveness of Auditory Rehabilitation [EAR] scale) and
adherence, and (2) if group visits were less costly over the 6 mo post-fitting
period. For 644 participants randomized to receive their hearing aid visits in an
individual or group format at the Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound
Health Care System, 6 mo outcomes showed no significant differences in Inner EAR
scores between individual and group fitting (p = 0.53) or follow-up (p = 0.11),
or in the number of hours per day hearing aids were worn between individual and
group fitting (p = 0.90) or follow-up (p = 0.24). We found significantly higher
cost for individual compared with group fitting (p < 0.001) and follow-up (p <
0.001). We conclude that outcomes for group hearing aid fitting and hearing aid
follow-up visits were not inferior to individual hearing aid fitting and
follow-up visits, with group fitting and follow-up visits yielding cost savings.

Langue : ANGLAIS