Table 87PICO characteristics of review question

PopulationAdults age 18 years and over with bilateral hearing loss, where both ears would be suitable for amplification
Intervention2 hearing aids (bilateral)
Comparison1 hearing aid, aid fitted to either the right or left ear (unilateral)
OutcomesCritical outcomes:
  • Hearing-specific health-related quality of life
    • Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) or HHI for Adults (HHIA)
    • Quantified Denver Scale of Communication (QDS)
    • Auditory Disability Preference – Visual Analog Scale (ADPI-VAS)
    • Any questionnaire not specified above that is relevant
  • Health-related quality of life
    • Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI-3)
    • EQ-5D
    • SF-36
    • Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI)
    • WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS)
    • Self-Evaluation of Life Function (SELF)
    • Any questionnaire not specified above that is relevant
  • Listening ability
    • Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB)
    • Speech, Spatial and Qualities (SSQ) Hearing Scale
    • Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP) disability subscale
    • Any questionnaire not specified above that is relevant
  • Device Orientated Subjective Outcome Scale
  • Outcomes reported by carer or ‘communications partner’
  • Patient preference

Important outcomes:
  • Usage of hearing aids (including data logging and self- report)
  • Adverse effects, such as pain, infection
  • Annoyance scale in patient reported outcome measures
  • Sound localisation as measured by laboratory test
  • Speech in noise detection as measured by laboratory tests
Study designRCT
Systematic review of RCTs
If no RCTs or systematic reviews of RCTs are identified we will include prospective or retrospective (data bases) cohort studies and case–control studies with multivariate analyses that adjust for the following key confounders:
  • Age
  • Hearing (loss) level
  • Types of devices
  • Degree of asymmetry

From: 15, Hearing aids

Cover of Hearing loss in adults
Hearing loss in adults: assessment and management.
NICE Guideline, No. 98.
National Guideline Centre (UK).
Copyright © NICE 2018.

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