Mobile apps are accessible to most hearing aid users, with emerging evidence to support app use in personalising interventions. Limited information is available to support integration in a clinic for caregiver use. This study explored audiologists' perceptions and practices related to app use with caregivers, and their preferences for a hypothetical education and engagement app.
Findings are likely to highlight gaps or variation in how clinicians guide caregivers to use hearing-aid apps; await full results to determine whether practice changes (e.g., standardised caregiver app training protocols) are warranted.
As hearing-aid-connected apps become standard, understanding how clinicians currently support caregiver involvement is essential for developing best-practice guidelines around remote and proxy hearing aid management.
- 01Study published in International Journal of Audiology (2026) focuses on caregiver use of hearing-aid-connected smartphone apps.
- 02Surveyed audiologists and audiometrists about their clinical practices and attitudes toward these tools.
- 03Addresses a growing area as remote and app-based hearing aid management becomes more common.
- 04Provider perspectives — not patient outcomes — are the primary focus of the study.
- 05Findings could inform guidance on how clinicians should educate and support caregivers in managing hearing aids.
Audiologists and audiometrists use hearing-aid-connected mobile apps to support caregiver management of hearing aids.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42479962
- DOI
- 10.1080/14992027.2026.2702204.
- Journal
- International Journal of Audiology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Audiologists and audiometrists (hearing care providers)
- Intervention
- Use of hearing-aid-connected mobile apps for caregiver hearing aid management
Primary outcomes
Provider practices regarding hearing-aid-connected mobile app use for caregiver management; Provider perspectives on caregiver app-based hearing aid management