The use of powerful digital hearing aids

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have been conducted to determine the advantage of the use of digital hearing aids for patients with mild to severe hearing losses but powerful digital hearing aids capable to supply the needs of the profoundly deaf individuals need to be investigated. Objective: to evaluate the performance obtained with the use of a powerful digital hearing aid in children previously fitted with other hearing aid types. Study design: Clinical prospective. Material and method: 5 postlingually profoundly deaf children participated in this study. All of them were hearing aid users for at least four years. Free fiel audiometry, speech perception tests in silence and noise and questionnaires of hearing aid benefit were administered with the use of the previous hearing aid and the digital hearing aid. Results: 4 subjects achieved better speech tests scores in silence and noise as well as self assessment scores while using the digital hearing aid. Conclusion: The digital powerful hearing aid provided better results for postlingually profoundly deaf children.