Association Between Hearing Amplification, Satisfaction with Healthcare Communication, and Quality of Life Among Older Adults with Hearing Loss

Background and Objectives: This study examined changes in hearing handicap and quality of life following hearing amplification in older adults and associations of hearing aid outcomes and healthcare communication satisfaction with post-amplification quality of life. Materials and Methods: This prospective, multicenter study included 117 adults aged over 60 years with bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss and no previous hearing aid use. Hearing handicap, quality of life, hearing aid outcomes, and healthcare communication satisfaction were assessed using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), WHOQOL-BREF, International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA), and a 12-item communication satisfaction measure, respectively. Results: Hearing amplification was associated with significantly reduced hearing handicap and improved quality of life across all WHOQOL-BREF domains (p < 0.01). Healthcare communication satisfaction also improved significantly (p < 0.001). Better hearing aid outcomes were associated with higher post-amplification quality of life across all domains, remaining independently associated after adjustment for baseline quality of life and participant characteristics. Greater healthcare communication satisfaction was positively associated with all quality-of-life domains but remained independently associated only with social relationships after adjustment. Conclusions: Hearing amplification was associated with reduced hearing handicap, improved quality of life, and greater healthcare communication satisfaction. Better hearing aid outcomes were independently associated with higher quality of life across all domains, whereas communication satisfaction was independently associated only with social relationships. This finding warrants caution given the lower internal consistency of that domain.