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Hearing aid effectiveness after aural rehabilitation: Individual versus group trial results. Margaret P. Collins, PhD, CCC-A; Chuan-Fen Liu, PhD; Leslie Taylor, PhD; Pamela E. Souza, PhD, CCC-A; Bevan Yueh, MD, MPH. Aim Determine whether:
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Hearing aid effectiveness after aural rehabilitation: Individual versus group trial results Margaret P. Collins, PhD, CCC-A; Chuan-Fen Liu, PhD; Leslie Taylor, PhD; Pamela E. Souza, PhD, CCC-A; Bevan Yueh, MD, MPH
Aim • Determine whether: • Group hearing aid fitting and follow-up visits were at least as effective as individual visits in terms of hearing-related function and adherence. • Group visits were less costly over 6 mo postfitting period. • Relevance • In 2011, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reported 702,000 Veterans with hearing loss. • 764% increase in hearing aids provided to Veterans from 1996 to 2010.
Method • At VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 644 participants randomly received their hearing aid visits either: • Individually. • In a group. • At baseline and 6 mo follow-up, we assessed: • Hearing-related function. • Hearing aid adherence. • Costs.
Results • At 6 mo, Effectiveness of Auditory Rehabilitation (Inner module) scores were not significantly different for individual and group fitting or follow-ups. • Costs for individual fitting and follow-up were significantly higher than for group format.
Conclusion • Outcomes for group hearing aid fitting and hearing aid follow-up visits were not inferior to individual hearing aid fitting and follow-up visits. • Group fitting and follow-up visits yielded cost savings.