Development of an Internet-based system to guide and telemonitor hearing aid users

Soares, Andrea; Almeida, Katia de

doi:10.1590/2317-1782/20232022162en

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Original Article • CoDAS 35 (6) • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1782/20232022162en copy

Development of an Internet-based system to guide and telemonitor hearing aid users

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To develop and verify the usability of an internet-based system for telemonitoring and guidance of the hearing aid user as well as monitoring the long-term performance in a pilot group.

Methods

The system “I can hear, but I can’t understand” was developed based on recommendations in the literature regarding layout, design, and content for guidance and advice. Three stages were followed: planning, design and content development, and pilot testing. The sample consisted of 43 adults and older adults with any type and degree of hearing loss, who had been regularly using a hearing aid for at least 30 days and at most 24 months, with reading skills and no evidence of cognitive impairments. The individuals were followed up for 8 to 12 months. The users’ performance was monitored with the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale. The usability of this material was assessed with the System Usability Scale.

Results

Improved performance and increased self-reported daily use of the hearing aid were observed after the period of guidance and telemonitoring via the system for all research participants. In all analyzes of the SUS scale, it was possible to observe a performance superior to 70 points, demonstrating good usability of the system. In the analysis of the performance of the SSQ, in the three moments of the research, a positive response was observed in all domains, thus showing progress in the use of hearing aids, with significant data for the domain of Hearing Speech.

Conclusion

The system “I can hear, but I can’t understand” proved to be an easy-to-use and effective tool to telemonitor hearing aid users.

Keywords:
Hearing Aids; Elderly; Adults; Distance Counseling; Internet-Based Intervention; Telehealth; Technological Development,Patient Satisfaction

Days	General		New		Experienced
Days	Correlation	p-value	Correlation	p-value	Correlation	p-value
total	0.290	0.059	0.139	0.596	0.406	0.040*
30	0.233	0.133	0.362	0.153	0.256	0.206
90	0.279	0.169	0.177	0.497	0.167	0.415
180	0.168	0.280	-0.183	0.482	0.323	0.107
+180	0.331	0.030	0.394	0.117	0.315	0.118

	Answer	N	%
Did you like receiving remote guidance as a complement to in-person appointments?	Yes	27	68%
	I did not need guidance; my fitting is fine.	4	10%
	No, I prefer it in person.	9	23%
Did you find the system easy to browse?	Yes	23	58%
	With someone else’s help.	12	30%
	No, I find the Internet too difficult.	5	13%
Would you recommend this form of healthcare to other patients?	Yes	24	60%
	Yes, but not to everyone.	16	40%
	No	0	0%

Variable	Group	Mean	SD	Median	Minimum	Maximum

Total	Participants	71.1	9.4	72.5	43	93

Age	Younger (< 60 years)	75.4	12.6	75	43	93
Age	Older (60 or more years)	70.7	7.6	72.5	53	85

Time of use	New	72.4	8.7	72.5	58	90
Time of use	Experienced	71.9	10	72.5	42	93

Professional activity	Inactive	72.08	8.3	72.5	53	85
Professional activity	Active	72.07	10.3	72.5	43	93

M	Domain	Group	Mean	Median	SD	Minimum	Maximum	p
SSQ 1	Hearing speech	New	7.61	8.10	1.61	3.60	9.60	0.057
	Hearing speech	Experienced	6.26	6.20	2.07	2.40	9.60	0.057
	Spatial hearing	New	7.46	7.67	1.25	4.33	9.33	0.774
	Spatial hearing	Experienced	7.40	8.00	1.97	2.50	10.00	0.774
	Qualities of hearing	New	7.56	7.50	1.34	5.25	9.75	0.190
	Qualities of hearing	Experienced	6.83	6.96	1.77	3.25	9.50	0.190
	Total	New	7.51	7.69	1.31	4.83	9.58	0.174
	Total	Experienced	6.76	7.13	1.67	3.33	9.50	0.174
SSQ 2	Hearing speech	New	7.63	7.60	1.40	5.00	9.40	0.010
	Hearing speech	Experienced	5.86	6.40	2.00	2.20	8.20	0.010
	Spatial hearing	New	7.31	7.67	1.61	4.33	9.67	0.415
	Spatial hearing	Experienced	6.73	7.00	2.26	2.67	10.00	0.415
	Qualities of hearing	New	7.50	7.25	1.18	5.75	9.50	0.136
	Qualities of hearing	Experienced	6.46	7.00	1.80	3.25	8.75	0.136
	Total	New	7.51	7.50	1.29	5.67	9.42	0.07
	Total	Experienced	6.21	6.67	1.85	2.75	8.73	0.07
SSQ 3	Hearing speech	New	8.02	8.25	1.24	6.00	10.00	0.049
	Hearing speech	Experienced	6.68	7.50	2.15	1.40	9.00	0.049
	Spatial hearing	New	7.87	7.67	1.48	5.33	10.00	0.660
	Spatial hearing	Experienced	7.51	7.67	2.33	3.00	10.00	0.660
	Qualities of hearing	New	7.95	8.00	1.36	6.00	10.00	0.300
	Qualities of hearing	Experienced	7.20	7.75	1.68	3.67	9.50	0.300
	Total	New	7.96	7.67	1.27	6.25	10.00	0.278
	Total	Experienced	7.09	8.00	1.95	2.45	9.17	0.278

Group	Recorded use initial phase	Reported use initial phase	Reported use final phase
New	11.6	11.17	11.2
Experienced	9.2	10.61	11.39
Inactive	9.5	10.65	11.41
Active	10.78	11	11.26
Younger (< 60 years)	11.82	11.57	11.7
Older (60 or more)	9.38	10.48	11.07

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[1] Conflict of interests: nothing to declare.