Patient-Centered Hearing Intervention Leads to Positive Outcomes: The Association of Hearing Technology With Daily Hearing Aid Usage and Listening Goals in the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders Study

PURPOSE: This study describes the patient-centered approach to hearing technology selection and fitting of the participants randomized to a best practice hearing intervention as part of the Aging and Cognitive Health Evaluation in Elders (ACHIEVE) study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03243422). We evaluated associations between hearing technology with daily hours of hearing aid use and listening and communication goal achievement. METHOD: technology levels, and offered at least one hearing-assistive technology (HAT). The Client-Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) was used to identify listening needs that guided intervention delivery and was used to assess attainment of hearing-related goals following ~10-week intervention period. Hearing aid datalogging was used to measure hours of daily wear. We estimated the association between hearing aid technology level, HATs, hours of wear, and COSI goal attainment using an ordered logistic model adjusting for auditory and sociodemographic characteristics. Proportionality odds assumption was checked for all models. RESULTS: = 9.3 hr across all participants) and did not differ between hearing technology (levels or HATs). Participant COSI goals, which included categories such as conversation in noise and in quiet or attending church and/or meetings, improved and were not dependent on technology used. Participants benefited from patient-centered hearing intervention, and there were no statistically significant associations among hearing aid technology level, HATs, hours of use, and change in COSI goals. CONCLUSIONS: The patient-centered selection of hearing technology used in the ACHIEVE study resulted in high levels of hearing aid and HAT usage, along with positive COSI listening goal attainment for the majority of participants. Carefully assessed and selected technology is needed to meet individual auditory rehabilitation needs. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.32069253.