Individuals with near-normal audiograms can experience hearing difficulties and could therefore benefit from hearing aids (HAs). The current study examined self-reported hearing difficulties, before and after HA provision, in a clinical sample tested as part of the Danish "Better hEAring Rehabilitation" (BEAR) project.
Audiologists should consider fitting hearing aids for patients with near-normal audiograms who report significant hearing difficulty, as aided outcomes can match those of patients with confirmed mild hearing loss.
Challenges the audiogram-centric gatekeeping of hearing-aid candidacy, supporting a more patient-centered approach that incorporates self-reported hearing difficulty.
- 01People with near-normal audiograms and self-reported hearing difficulty achieved similar hearing-aid outcomes to those with mild hearing loss.
- 02Published in International Journal of Audiology (doi: 10.1080/14992027.2026.2668497).
- 03Findings reinforce the case for expanding hearing-aid candidacy criteria beyond pure-tone thresholds.
- 04Self-reported hearing difficulties may be a clinically valid indicator for intervention independent of audiometric results.
- 05Supports patient-centered practice models over strictly threshold-based fitting guidelines.
Individuals with near-normal audiograms and perceived hearing difficulties can achieve hearing-aid outcomes comparable to those of peers with mild hearing loss.
studysupported- PMID
- 42204917
- DOI
- 10.1080/14992027.2026.2668497.
- Journal
- International Journal of Audiology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Adults with near-normal audiograms and self-reported hearing difficulties, compared to adults with mild hearing loss
- Intervention
- Hearing aid fitting in individuals with near-normal audiograms
- Comparator
- Hearing aid outcomes in individuals with mild hearing loss
Primary outcomes
Hearing aid outcome measures (self-reported benefit/satisfaction)