Mild hearing loss, though often overlooked, can substantially affect daily communication and quality of life. Conventional hearing aids remain the mainstay of hearing loss management, yet their high cost has limited their widespread adoption. Recently, alternative amplification devices, such as personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) and over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids, have gained attention....
Clinicians should reconsider a 'watch-and-wait' approach for mild hearing loss, as this review supports earlier intervention with conventional hearing aids given documented impacts on communication and quality of life.
Reframing mild hearing loss as clinically significant could shift fitting thresholds and counseling practices, expanding the addressable patient population substantially.
- 01Mild hearing loss has measurable negative effects on daily communication and quality of life.
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