DIY audiology at home: adults are interested in conducting self-administered hearing tests and trying fit-at-home hearing aids

Abstract

Objective: To survey public attitudes about self-administered home-based hearing tests and fit-at-home hearing aids. Design: Online survey enquiring about willingness to try the above. Explanatory variables included sex, age, and education. Study Sample: A representative sample of 2135 UK adults. Results: Only 13% of respondents were unwilling to undertake a home-based hearing test. Perceived benefits of home-based testing were associated with convenience and ease, and its use as a precursor to a formal hearing test. Main concerns were associated with accuracy and reliability. Regarding hearing aid fitting pathways, 71%, 63% and 79% were willing to try a pre-programmed, self-programmed or audiologist-fit hearing aid, respectively. Respondents’ preferred pathways were 37% fit-at-home (26% and 11% for pre-programmed and self-programmed, respectively) and 53% for audiologist-fit (10% responded “Don’t Know”). Adults >65 years were less willing to complete and/or trust a home-based hearing test, and less willing to try fit-at-home hearing aids. Conclusion: Most adults reported a willingness to conduct home-based hearing tests and to try fit-at-home hearing aids. These pathways have the potential to shift care closer to home and provide innovative sustainable pathways for a proportion of the public. Their effectiveness combined with user preference has yet to be evaluated.