The study found one hearing aid is clearly better than none, while two may offer additional benefits for many people. Image: Mediteraneo/stock.adobe.com. Adults with age-related mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss reported greater benefit from bilateral than unilateral hearing aids in a new randomised clinical trial but researchers said the difference may not be large enough to be clinically meaningful for...
Continue reading at Hearing Practitioner Australia
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
This trial adds controlled evidence supporting bilateral (both-ear) fitting as the preferred approach for adults with age-related mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss — audiologists should use this to reinforce bilateral recommendations, particularly for patients resistant to a second device.
Controlled trial evidence directly comparing unilateral versus bilateral fitting in age-related hearing loss strengthens the clinical rationale for bilateral dispensing, a recommendation that has often relied on observational data and expert consensus.
- 01Clinical trial compared no aids, one aid, and two aids in adults with age-related mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss.
- 02Bilateral (two-aid) fitting produced greater self-reported benefit than unilateral (one-aid) fitting.
- 03Unilateral fitting was significantly better than unaided, confirming single-device value.
- 04Population targeted: adults with age-related, mild-to-moderate sensorineural (nerve-related) hearing loss.
- 05Findings support existing bilateral fitting guidelines with trial-level evidence.
Adults with age-related mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss report greater benefit from bilateral hearing aids than from a single hearing aid.
studysupportedOne hearing aid provides clearly greater benefit than wearing no hearing aid for adults with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss.
studysupported- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 1b
- Population
- Adults with age-related mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss
- Intervention
- Bilateral hearing aid fitting
- Comparator
- Unilateral hearing aid fitting and unaided control
Primary outcomes
Self-reported hearing aid benefit