Clinical Outcomes of Hearing Aid Use in Moderate to Severe Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Cross-Sectional Study from Romania

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aims to explore both the psychosocial outcomes of hearing aid use and the factors that differentiate users from non-users among older adults with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in Romania. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, comparative study with follow-up, including 201 patients aged between 49 and 92 years (mean age 70.76 ± 11.86 years), diagnosed with moderate to severe SNHL, evaluated between 1 November 2023, and 30 November 2024, at the Municipal Clinical Hospital Orăștie, Romania. Audiological assessment involved pure-tone audiometry and speech testing. Outcome measures included the Word Recognition Score (WRS), International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA), Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), and the Self-Esteem Scale (SES). Results: Of the 201 patients, 105 (52.2%) accepted hearing aid (HA) fitting and 96 (47.8%) declined. No significant differences were found in age (p = 0.565) or sex (p = 0.476) between groups. HA users reported significantly lower perceived handicap (HHIA: 46.48 ± 24.83 vs. 77.74 ± 28.02, p = 0.015) and higher self-esteem scores (SES: 35.68 ± 4.88 vs. 23.03 ± 4.90, p < 0.001), while tinnitus-related distress (THI) did not differ significantly (p = 0.785). Word recognition scores improved significantly post-fitting across all degrees of hearing loss: moderate (48.52% → 86.13%), moderately severe (47.47% → 85.31%), and severe (47.55% → 85.46%), all p < 0.001. Conclusions: Hearing aid use in older adults with SNHL was associated with significant improvements in speech perception and reduced perceived hearing handicap. These benefits were consistent across all severity levels and were independent of unilateral or bilateral device use. The difference in self-esteem observed between users and non-users may reflect pre-existing psychological factors influencing HA adoption, underlining the importance of personalized counseling in hearing rehabilitation.