Abstract

LOMBARDI, Christiane Mara  and  FREIRE, Regina Maria. Hearing rehabilitation programs for elderly: an alternative proposal for effectiveness evaluation. Rev. CEFAC [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.6, pp. 1031-1039.  Epub Feb 11, 2011. ISSN 1982-0216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-18462011005000006.

PURPOSE: to analyze the effectiveness of an auditory rehabilitation program for elderly. METHODS: the study was conducted with thirty subjects with moderate to severe degree hearing loss, 70 to 92-year old, hearing aid users with auditory monaural and bilateral adaptation. They were engaged at Hearing Aid User Support Group (Grupo de Apoio ao Usuário de Auxiliar Auditivo - GAUAA), comprised by four monthly meetings. The QI-AASI questionnaire was applied before the beginning and at the end of the program, in order to assess user's satisfaction degree. The findings were submitted to Wilcoxon tests of placarded posts. RESULTS: the findings, although statistically significant, did not indicate the cause for the positive responses of the elderly about GAUAA. The favorable outcome could have resulted from the content of the program, the way the classes were given, the work group, the coordination or from the interaction of all these aspects. CONCLUSION: it was not possible to assess the effectiveness of a hearing rehabilitation program using the available tools. However, it was settled that the meetings configured an identification room for the participants, encouraging the systematic use of Hearing Aid.

Keywords : Presbycusis; Hearing Aids; Rehabilitation of Hearing Impaired; Questionnaires.