CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Semin Hear 2020; 41(03): 141-246
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1714744
Review Article

Guidelines for Best Practice in the Audiological Management of Adults with Severe and Profound Hearing Loss

Laura Turton
1   Department of Audiology, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, Warwick, United Kingdom
,
Pamela Souza
2   Communication Sciences and Disorders and Knowles Hearing Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
,
Linda Thibodeau
3   University of Texas at Dallas, Callier Center for Communication Disorders, Dallas, Texas
,
Louise Hickson
10   School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia
,
René Gifford
5   Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
,
Judith Bird
6   Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
,
Maren Stropahl
7   Department of Science and Technology, Sonova AG, Stäfa, Switzerland
,
Lorraine Gailey
8   Hearing Link, United Kingdom
,
Bernadette Fulton
9   Phonak Communications AG, Switzerland
,
Nerina Scarinci
10   School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia
,
Katie Ekberg
10   School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia
,
Barbra Timmer
10   School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Funding Disclosure The Open Access article publication charge is supported by Phonak. The funder was instrumental in organizing the working group, provided honoraria to the authors, and facilitated the review process and preparation of the manuscripts.
 

Abstract

Individuals with severe to profound hearing loss are likely to present with complex listening needs that require evidence-based solutions. This document is intended to inform the practice of hearing care professionals who are involved in the audiological management of adults with a severe to profound degree of hearing loss and will highlight the special considerations and practices required to optimize outcomes for these individuals.


#

Definitions

For the purposes of these guidelines the World Health Organization definitions will apply:

  • Severe hearing loss is an average hearing loss of 61-80 dB HL (ISO) in the better ear.

  • Profound hearing loss is an average hearing loss of 81 dB HL (ISO) or above in the better ear.

  • An adult is a person older than 19 years of age

  • In these guidelines, best practice refers to a two-stage approach: (1) evidence-based, using evidence where available, and elsewhere (2) provide consensus advice of expert panel.

The guidelines are focused on adults with severe and profound hearing loss in the better ear. Conductive hearing loss is largely excluded. Precipitous and asymmetrical hearing loss with at least a severe degree of hearing loss in the better ear, are included. Characteristics associated with severe and profound sensorineural hearing loss such as severe recruitment and tinnitus are also considered. In each section, the guidelines will first address acquired hearing loss and then indicate if a different practice is required for congenital hearing loss.


#

Purpose

These guidelines are intended to inform the practice of hearing care professionals who are directly involved in the audiological management of adults with a severe and profound degree of hearing loss. These guidelines recognize that audiological management of mild-to-moderate hearing loss is widely understood. These management practices are sometimes insufficient to address the special needs of adults with severe and profound hearing loss.

The current guidelines will highlight the special considerations and practices required to optimize the outcomes for adults with severe and profound hearing loss and their communication partners. Full details of evidence is given in Appendix 1. The guidelines will include practical information in the form of recommendations for hearing care professionals.

The specific goal of these guidelines is to provide a set of statements, recommendations, and strategies for best practices specific to the audiologic management of adults with severe and profound hearing loss.


#

Content

Setting the Scene

I. Introduction

 I.i. Consequences of severe and profound hearing loss

 I.ii. Prevalence

 I.iii. Causes

 I.iv. Unique amplification and rehabilitation needs

II. Methods

 II.i. How the guidelines were developed

 II.ii. Research evidence for adults with bilateral severe and profound hearing loss

 II.iii. Evidence

  II.iii.i. Levels of evidence

  II.iii.ii. Grades of recommendation

  II.iii.iii. Types of evidence

 II.iv. Supporting evidence from elsewhere

III. List of authors and reviewers

The Guidelines and Recommendations

Assessment

1. Audiological assessment of severe and profound hearing loss

 1.1. Obtaining diagnostic information

 1.2. Non-auditory needs assessment

 1.3. Understanding the client's self-perception, motivation, communication needs and treatment goals

 1.4. Developing a comprehensive treatment plan

Selecting technology

 2.1. Prescribing and fitting hearing aids

 2.1.1. Amplitude compression

 2.1.2. Device choices and programs

 2.1.3. Frequency lowering for adults with severe and profound hearing loss

 2.1.4. Prescriptions and verification

 2.1.5. Selecting technology for asymmetrical severe and profound loss

 2.1.6. Maximum power output and threshold shift

 2.2. Prescribing and fitting remote microphones

 2.2.1. Considerations for recommending and managing ongoing use of remote microphones

 2.2.2. Component considerations

 2.2.3. Remote microphone verification

 2.3. Referral for a cochlear implant

 2.3.1. Be comfortable in starting the conversation with clients

 2.3.2. Understand the benefits of bimodal fittings

 2.3.3. Understand the limitations of other implantable devices for this population

Rehabilitation

3. Psychosocial and communication rehabilitation

 3.1. Help in adjusting to life with severe and profound hearing loss

 3.2. Training to develop effective communication practices with client and family

 3.3. Contact with peers to provide support and to reduce isolation

 3.4. Guidance in selecting and using appropriate assistive listening device solutions

Tinnitus

4. Audiological management of tinnitus in severe and profound hearing loss

 4.1. Medical treatment

 4.2. Address the hearing loss

 4.3. Therapies

Measuring outcomes and long-term care

5. Measuring outcomes and long-term management

 5.1. Measurement of patient reported outcomes (PROMs) and assessment of treatment goals

 5.2. Assessing need for onward referral

 5.3. Ensuring appropriate on-going management

Summary and conclusions

6. Summary and conclusions

 6.1. Declarations of interest from the authors

 6.2. Date for review of guidelines

Appendices

Appendix 1 Evidence: summary tables of evidence applicable to each recommendation

Appendix 2 Other relevant guidelines: not for severe and profound hearing loss

Appendix 3 Reference table: cross referencing all relevant general guidelines with each section

Appendix 4 References


# I.

Introduction

Individuals with severe to profound hearing loss (an estimated 87 million people worldwide) may experience challenges related to social participation, health comorbidities, work or school limitations, and overall reduced quality of life. These individuals often have specific, complex listening needs that may not be adequately addressed by routine audiologic care. The authors of these guidelines have compiled, reviewed, and evaluated relevant evidence in order to provide clear, evidence-based direction for providers managing the audiologic care of this population.

“In many ways patients with severe hearing loss are the most interesting we see, calling upon our skills as clinicians to develop assistive strategies, provide counseling, and think more creatively than the "typical" hearing aid fitting. As clinicians, we understand that the end result of a hearing aid fitting is limited by the processing capability of the peripheral and central auditory system, and that few patients with severe sensorineural hearing loss will achieve high levels of speech recognition in complex listening situations”.[1]

I.i.

Consequences of Severe and Profound Hearing Loss

The consequences of this degree of hearing loss changes life experience and opportunities including those of the people closest to those with the hearing loss.[2] [3] [4] Several studies have identified higher levels of social isolation, anxiety and depression among adults with severe and profound hearing loss, compared to their better hearing peers.[5] [6]

Young people with severe and profound hearing loss are less likely to go to university or work full time compared to their hearing peers.[7] Severe and profound hearing loss has been found to negatively affect quality of life, regardless of age or suddenness of onset[8] and to negatively impact activities of daily living.[9] [10] Many adults with severe and profound loss will also have tinnitus,[8] which has been shown to negatively impact quality of life for some individuals. As these adults age, they may struggle with other attributes of ageing, such as declining vision, mobility, dexterity, cognition and general health. In addition to a social support network of friends and family,[10] to avoid poor health and social isolation, hearing healthcare has an important role in the life of the person with hearing loss, to support them and provide effective tools for communication.[11]


# I.ii.

Prevalence

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the prevalence of disabling hearing loss (where the average hearing loss is greater than 40 dB HL in adults and greater than 30 dB HL in children) at 460 million people worldwide.[12] This number includes an estimated 87 million with a severe and profound degree of hearing loss.[13]

If the WHO definition of severe hearing loss (of greater than 60 dB HL) is applied then the prevalence stands around 2.2% of the general population.[14] [15] (If severe hearing loss was considered more conservatively (of greater than 70 dB HL) then the prevalence estimation lowers to 0.7% of the general population).[8] [10] Regardless of the definition, the number of adults affected peaks around the 8th decade of life, regardless of gender. It is expected that up to 2 out of 10 adults with hearing loss presenting to a typical hearing aid service will have a severe and profound hearing loss.[8]


# I.iii.

Causes

Factors which can lead to severe and profound sensorineural hearing loss include age, noise exposure, congenital and genetic conditions, ototoxic drugs and injuries such as head trauma. Diseases include meningitis, viral and autoimmune diseases, advanced otosclerosis and Meniere's disease. The hearing loss onset can be sudden or progressive.[16]


# I.iv.

Unique Amplification and Rehabilitation Needs

Such clients do not easily fit into our regular routines for hearing care: “patients with severe loss are also the best illustration of the complexities of the auditory system and remind us (yet again) that adding gain is not a simple solution to communication problems”.[1] Even as technologies improve “hearing aids may never be fully sufficient for those with severe cochlear damage”.[17]

People with severe and profound hearing loss are often long-term, full-time users of amplification who, because of their degree of loss, are highly reliant on their devices. Their amplification needs are unique: individuals in this population require that a wide range of input levels be made audible, comfortable, and safe within a narrow range of residual hearing.[18] [19] Assistive technologies and hearing dogs may be relevant considerations for this population. The benefits of wireless microphone technology have been well established for severe and profound hearing loss[20] and can be considered as a standard component of a rehabilitation program.[21] People with severe and profound hearing loss pose unique hearing, psychosocial and communication rehabilitation challenges. The authors have tried to address these challenges within the recommendations throughout this Practice Guidance.

Equally, bimodal fittings present another unique set of circumstances for amplification, which is addressed in further guidelines by Gifford (ed) et al in Guidelines for best practice in the audiological management of adults with severe and profound hearing loss. Part 2: Bimodal fitting (2020, unpublished data).

In a recent study of adults presenting for cochlear implant assessment by Holder et al, only 30% of candidates were found to have sufficient hearing aid gain to achieve the prescription target.[22] It is little surprise that when hearing aids are not optimally fitted. 177 of 287 patients presented with no hearing aid, reporting lack of perceived benefit. This finding highlights the need to revisit best practice in the support offered by the hearing care professional. Best practice in the audiological management of severe and profound hearing loss will rely on much more than hearing aids alone.


#
# II.

Methods

II.i.

How the Guidelines were Developed

These guidelines outline best practice in the audiological management of adults with severe and profound hearing loss. Best practice will be defined using a two-stage approach: (1) use evidence where available, and elsewhere (2) provide consensus advice of expert panel. Where evidence is available it will provide the evidence for best evidence-based practice and where the scientific evidence is insufficient, the guide provides specific recommendations based on expert advice. The authors hope that sharing this information will inform best practice in hearing care and improve outcomes for adults with severe and profound hearing loss.

Specific statements, recommendations and strategies were made by initially reviewing the existing scientific evidence published in peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed journals. When direct evidence was not available, both indirect evidence (often evidence from mild-to-moderate hearing loss, pediatrics or cochlear implants) was used, and consensuses on practice were considered in making recommendations. This document presents practice guidance by recognized experts in the field of audiology with specialized knowledge in the management of severe and profound hearing loss. It encompasses the evidence-base and consensus on good practice, given the stated methodology and scope of the document and at the time of publication.

The process of developing the recommendations is evidence-based when possible. Where evidence is ambiguous or conflicting, or where scientific data are lacking, the clinical expertise of the authors was used to guide the development of consensus-based recommendations.

The methodology used in developing the guidelines is drawn from the 2018 revision of the 2016 NHMRC Standards for Guidelines, National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.[23]

In addition, useful information was provided by Rosenfeld et al (2013) Clinical Practice Guideline Development Manual, Third Edition: A Quality-Driven Approach for Translating Evidence into Action Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery 148(1S) S1–S55[24] and the American Academy of Audiology Clinical Practice Guideline: Pediatric Amplification.[25]


# II.ii.

Research Evidence for Adults with Bilateral Severe and Profound Hearing Loss

Although often highlighted in the literature, it is important to emphasize the limited research which has focused on this population over the last 10-15 years. In the coming years, the authors would strongly encourage research that focuses on the gaps in the published evidence.


# II.iii.

Evidence

Appendix 1 outlines the evidence from which the recommendations are based. These guidelines are not intended to be a systematic review. Instead the authors searched the literature to identify the best available evidence to provide support for the development of key recommendations. In searching the literature, the authors first sought to identify studies at the top of the hierarchy of study types (II.iii.i. Levels of evidence). The authors then graded the evidence using the rating scheme described below (II.iii.ii. Grades of recommendation). In addition, the authors determined “effective” (EV) or “efficacious” (EF). “EV” is evidence measured in the real world while “EF” is evidence measured under laboratory or ideal conditions (II.iii.iii. Types of Evidence#x0029; Finally, if the authors have had to extend their literature search to beyond adults with severe and profound hearing loss this is identified by evidence from elsewhere (II.iv. Supporting evidence). All authors reviewed the recommendations and evidence grading for the Practice Guidance and agreed on the levels of quality assigned. This assessment of the literature is based on the recommendations for evidence-based practice in the provision of amplification[27] as implemented in the AAA Pediatric Amplification.[26] The results of the assessment are collated in an evidence table as follows:

Rec (Recommendation number)

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM / P / CI


# II.iii.i.

Levels of Evidence

  1. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials

  2. Randomized controlled trials

  3. Non-randomized intervention studies

  4. Descriptive studies (cross-sectional surveys, cohort studies, case-control designs)

  5. Case studies

  6. Expert opinion


# II.iii.ii.

Grades of Recommendation

  • A. Consistent level 1 or 2 studies

  • B. Consistent level 3 or 4 studies or extrapolations from level 1 or 2 studies

  • C. Level 5 studies or extrapolations from level 3 and 4 studies

  • D. Level 6 evidence or troubling inconsistencies or inconclusive studies at any level


# II.iii.iii.

Types of Evidence

In addition to grading the evidence and assigning it a level, it was determined if the evidence was Efficacy (EF) or Effectiveness (EV). EF is evidence measured under “laboratory or ideal” conditions and EV is evidence measured in the “real” world.


# II.iv.

Supporting Evidence from Elsewhere

In the absence of direct evidence, indirect evidence including evidence given for mild-to-moderate hearing loss (MM), pediatrics (P) or cochlear implants (CI) was considered for inclusion.

This paper presents best practice guidance by experts in the field of audiology with specialized knowledge in the management of severe and profound hearing loss. It encompasses the evidence base and consensus on good practice, given the stated methodology and scope of the document and at the time of publication. No previous outlines for the audiological management of severe and profound hearing loss are known to the authors, who are unanimous in recognizing the need for such an outline. The following data bases were searched:

Cochrane Collaboration Systematic Reviews

www.cochrane.org

International Guideline database

www.g-i-n.net

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

www.nice.org.uk

National Guidelines Clearinghouse

www.guideline.gov

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

www.ahrq.gov

US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (Pub Med)

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

American Speech and Hearing Association

www.asha.org

American Academy of Audiology

www.audiology.org

British Society of Audiology

www.thebsa.org.uk

Canadian Association of Audiology

www.canadianaudiology.ca

Audiology Australia

www.audiology.asn.au

Internationally, there are many general guidelines for the assessment and audiological management for all adults with hearing loss (See Appendix 2 for the list of international guidelines and Appendix 3 for a table which summarizes the relevance of each general guidelines to topics in the current guidelines.) Rarely, if ever are people with a severe and profound hearing loss referred to specifically in any of these guidelines. The following recommendations focus on severe and profound hearing loss which may differ from the general guidelines listed in Appendix 2.


#
# III.

List of authors and reviewers

Editor

Mrs. Laura Turton, Adult Audiology Manager, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Authors

  • Prof. Pamela Souza, Communication Sciences and Disorders and Knowles Hearing Center, Northwestern University, USA.

  • Prof. Linda Thibodeau, University of Texas at Dallas, Callier Center for Communication Disorders, USA.

  • Prof. Louise Hickson, Associate Dean, Faculty of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Queensland, AUS.

  • Prof. René Gifford, Professor of Hearing & Speech Sciences, Director of Cochlear Implant Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA.

  • Mrs Judith Bird, Director Severe and profound hearing loss clinic, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

  • Dr. Maren Stropahl, Audiological Service Delivery Specialist, Department of Science and Technology, Sonova AG, Stäfa, Switzerland.

  • Dr. Lorraine Gailey, Former Chief Operating Officer, Hearing Link, UK.

  • Ms. Bernadette Fulton, Audiology Manager for Severe to Profound, Phonak Communications AG, Switzerland

  • Associate Professor Nerina Scarinci, Head of Speech Pathology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, AUS.

  • Dr. Katie Ekberg, Research Fellow, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, AUS.

  • Dr. Barbra Timmer, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia and Senior Scientist, Sonova AG, Switzerland.

Reviewers

  • Dr. Ann-Marie Dickinson, Highly Specialist Audiologist, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Vice-chair of the BAA Service Quality Committee, UK.

  • Dr. Derek J Hoare Assoc. Prof Hearing Sciences, Research Lead in Tinnitus and Hyperacusis, National Institute for Health Research Nottingham Biomedical Research, UK.

  • Prof. Pádraig Kitterick, Associate Professor and head of Hearing Sciences in the School of Medicine and Health Science, National Institute for Health Research, Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, UK.

  • Ms. Emma Scanlan, Principal Audiologist Adults, Hearing Australia, Macquarie University NSW Australia.

  • Dr. Debi Vickers, Principal Research Fellow and Associate Professor, Cambridge Hearing Group, Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK.


#

Guidelines and Recommendations


# 1

Assessment

Key Concepts

The hearing assessment is for the purposes of:

 • Obtaining diagnostic information.

 • Non-auditory needs assessment.

 • Understanding the client's social needs, self-perception, motivation, communication needs, and treatment goals through a detailed needs assessment (including understanding the relevant third-party disability of the communication partners).

 • Developing a comprehensive treatment plan.


#
# 1.1

Obtaining Diagnostic Information

Objective

People with severe and profound hearing loss should receive an individually tailored audiological assessment which should include a comprehensive audiological examination including case history, otoscopy, and behavioral and physiological auditory measures. The elements of the auditory assessment include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • A comprehensive relevant medical history.

  • Otoscopic examination.

  • Measurement of hearing impairment (type and extent of hearing loss).

  • Assessment of the need for additional evaluation and/or medical referral.

  • Assessment of candidacy for amplification, referral for implantable hearing devices and for other treatments.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 1.1.)

  1. People with severe and profound hearing loss may need extended clinical time and additional support throughout their pathway.

  2. Prior to the hearing assessment, enquire if communication support (e.g., palantypists for captioning, note takers, interpreters) is required.

  3. It is beneficial to take an extensive, chronological otological history, taking the client back to the start of their hearing problems to fully understand their journey so far and enable problem solving to take place when developing a treatment plan later in the assessment.

  4. Often the client will be returning for a reassessment of their hearing, rather than attending for a first assessment and, in such cases, the medical history should focus on any changes since their last assessment.

  5. In the case of sudden onset of severe and profound hearing loss or acute tinnitus, the hearing care professional must refer the client for ENT investigation. This should be treated as a medical emergency and the client should be seen urgently. See sections 3.3 and 4.1.

  6. The measurement of the degree and type of hearing loss should include both threshold and uncomfortable loudness levels to ascertain the dynamic range for both ears.

  7. Speech recognition testing is beneficial in considering amplification strategies, setting expectations, and onward referral for cochlear implants. See section 2.3. See [Table 1]

    • The hearing care professional and the client should consider what they want to measure (e.g., evaluating amplification or considering a cochlear implant assessment). Speech testing can be a useful qualitative measure of both communication abilities and hearing aid benefit.

    • Speech testing may be dictated by local/national protocols for cochlear implant referrals, but ideally, it should be flexible enough to assess auditory speech perception, auditory-visual speech perception, and conversational fluency either through one test or through a battery of tests available to the hearing care professional.

  8. Cochlear dead region testing might be undertaken to consider the success of amplification or candidacy for cochlear implants. See sections 2.1.3 and 2.3.

  9. Tinnitus management should be investigated and implemented if required. See section 4.0. and [Table 1].

Table 1

Useful Tools for Obtaining Diagnostic Information

Tool

Reference

Speech tests

AB word lists

Boothroyd A. Developments in speech audiometry. Br J Audiol 1968;2(1):3–10[27]

AzBio sentence lists (available in multiple languages)

Spahr A, Dorman M, Litvak L, et al. Development and validation of the AzBio Sentence Lists. Ear Hear 2012;33(1):112–117[28]

BKB-A sentence lists

Bench J, Kowal A, Bamford J. The BKB (Bamford-Kowal-Bench) sentence lists for partially-hearing children. Br J Audiol 1979;13(3):108–12[29]

BKB-SIN test

Niquette P, Arcaroli J, Revit L, et al. Development of the BKB-SIN Test. Paper presented at: American Auditory Society Annual Meeting; 2003; Scottsdale, AZ[30]

CUNY sentence lists

Boothroyd A, Hanin L, Hnath T. A sentence test of speech perception: reliability, set equivalence, and short term learning. CUNY Academic works. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1443&context=gc_pubs. 1985. Accessed February 9, 2019[31]

CNC word lists (available in a range of dialects)

Peterson G, Lehiste I. Revised CNC Lists for auditory tests. J Speech Hear Dis 1962;27(1):62–70[32]

HINT sentences (available in multiple languages)

Nilsson M, Soli S, Sullivan J. Development of the Hearing in Noise Test for the measurement of speech reception thresholds in quiet and in noise. J Acoust Soc Am 1994;95(2):1085–1099[33]

QuickSIN

Etymotic Research. Quick Speech-in-Noise Test (Version 1.3) - User manual. https://www.etymotic.com/downloads/dl/file/id/259/product/159/quicksin_user_manual.pdf. Updated 2006[34]

Words in Noise (WIN) test

Wilson R, Carnell C, Cleghorn A. The Words-in-Noise (WIN) Test with multitalker babble and speech-spectrum noise maskers. J Am Acad Audiol 2007;18(6):522–529[35]

Tinnitus questionnaires

Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI)

Henry JA, Stewart BJ, Abrams HB, et al. Tinnitus Functional Index - development and clinical application. Audiology Today 2014;26(6):40–48[36]

Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ)

Wilson PH, Henry J, Bowen M, Haralambous G. Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire: Psychometric properties of a measure of distress associated with tinnitus. J Speech Hear Res 1991 34(1) 197–201[37]

Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI)

Newman CW, Jacobson GP, Spitzer JB. Development of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Arch Otolaryngol 1996;122(2):143–148[38]

Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ)

Hallam RS, Jakes SC, Hinchcliffe R. Cognitive variables in tinnitus annoyance. Brit J Clin Psychol 1988;27(3):213–222[39]

Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS)

Henry J, Griest S, Zaugg T, et al. Tinnitus and hearing survey: a screening tool to differentiate bothersome tinnitus from hearing difficulties. Am J Audiol 2015;24(1):66–77[40]


#
# 1.2

Non-Auditory Needs Assessment

Objective

Alongside the auditory assessment, it is essential to examine factors (outside of the hearing loss) which also influence the client and the possible treatment options. These non-auditory issues may influence the need for modification in testing, additional counseling, and referrals to other professionals and may change the treatment options to be offered.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 1.2.)

  1. Information should be gathered on the following comorbidities and other relevant factors: See [Table 2].

    • Cognitive ability.

    • Mental health status.

    • Physical status (mobility and craniofacial status).

    • General health.

    • Dexterity.

    • Visual status.

  2. Clients presenting with significant neurological disorders/cognitive impairment may require an assessment test battery that is adapted appropriately. Tests which are assessed verbally must be administered carefully to avoid confusing hearing and cognitive aspects.

  3. Hearing care professionals with training may perform these additional tests outside the scope of audiology (e.g., tests of dexterity, vision, cognition, and depression) or make recommendations for an onward referral for completion of these tests if required. See [Table 2].

  4. Hearing care professionals should make appropriate referrals for onward management where significant non-auditory needs are discovered requiring further support.

  5. The communication impairment and association of other long-term health conditions with severe and profound hearing loss will render referrals in and outside of the health system. See section 3.0.

Table 2

Useful Tools for Non-Auditory Needs Assessment (Some of these tools will not be administered by the hearing care professional but will be used by other health care professionals. It is important the hearing care professional understands the local setup for referrals and the use of these tools. See above.)

Tool

Reference

General health tests

EuroQOL (EQ-5D)

EuroQol Research Foundation. EQ-5D-5L User Guide. https://euroqol.org/publications/user-guides. Updated 2019[41]

Health Utilities Index (HUI)

Horsman J, Furlong W, Feeny D, Torrance G. The Health Utilities Index (HUI®): concepts, measurement properties and applications. Health Qual Life Out 2003;1:1–13[42]

Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)

Hunt SM, McKenna SP, McEwen J, Williams J, Papp E. The Nottingham health profile: subjective health status and medical consultations. Soc Sci Med 1981;15(3):221–229[43]

Short Form—36 Health Survey (SF-36)

Ware JE, Sherbourne CD. The MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36): I. Conceptual Framework and Item Selection. Med Care 1992;30(6):473–483[44]

Sickness Impact Profile (SIP)

Bergner M, Bobbitt RA, Carter WB, Gilson BS. The sickness impact profile: development and final revision of a health status measure. Med Care 1981;19(8):787–805[45]

World Health Organization Measure of QOL (WHO-QOL)

World Health Organization (WHO). Microsoft Word – 95 FT 100 Q's.doc. https://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/WHOQOL_100.pdf?ua=1. Updated 1995[46]

Tests for cognition/mental health

6CIT Six-item Cognitive Impairment Test

Brooke P, Bullock R. Validation of a 6 item cognitive impairment test with a view to primary care usage. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 1999;14(11):936–940[47]

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

Beck AT, Steer RA, Ball R, Ranieri W. Comparison of Beck depression inventories – IA and II in psychiatric outpatients. J Pers Assess 1996;67(3):588–597[48]

Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG: short version of CAMDEX and CAMTAB app)

Huppert FA, Brayne C, Gill C, Paykel ES, Beardsall L. CAMCOG: a concise neuropsychological test to assist dementia diagnosis: socio-demographic determinants in an elderly population sample. Br J Clin Psychol 1995;34:529–541[49]

Cambridge Cognition Ltd. CANTAB app. www.camcog.com [50]

Roth M, Tym E, Mountjoy CQ, Huppert, FA. CAMDEX: a standardized instrument for the diagnosis of mental disorders in the elderly with special reference to early detection of dementia. Br J Psychiatry 1986;149(6):698–709[51]

Cognitive Status Exam (Cognistat)

Schwamm LH, Van Dyke C, Kiernan RJ, Merrin E, Mueller J. The Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination: comparison with the NCSE and MMSE in a neurosurgical population. Ann Intern Med 1987;107(4):486–491[52]

Hearing impaired MoCA (HI-MoCA)

Lin V, Chung J, Callahan B, et al. Development of cognitive screening test for the severely hearing impaired: hearing-impaired MoCA. Laryngoscope 2017;127(S1):S4–S11[53]

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs)

Zigmond AS, Snaith RP. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scan 1983;67(6):361–370[54]

Kahn-Goldfarb Mental Status Questionnaire (MSQ)

Kane RA, Kane RL. Assessing the elderly: a practical guide to measurement. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books; 1981[55]

MicroCog: Assessment of Cognitive Functioning Computerized Testing Instrument

Powell DH, Kaplan EF, Whitla D, Weintraub S, Catlin R, Funkenstein HH. MicroCog: Assessment of Cognitive Functioning (Version 2.1) [Computer software]. The Psychological Corporation, San Antonio, TX; 1993[56]

Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE)

Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR. “Mini-mental state”: a practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res 1975;12:189–198[57]

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (this is translated into multiple languages)

Nasreddine Z, Phillips N, Bédirian V, et al. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA: a brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment. J Am Geriatr Soc 2005;0.53(4):695–699[58]

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med 2001;16(9):606–613[59]

Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (Short Portable MSQ)

Pfeiffer E. A short portable mental status questionnaire for the assessment of organic brain deficit in elderly patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 1975;23(10):433–441[60]

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

Wechsler, D. The Measurement and Appraisal of Adult Intelligence (4th ed.). Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 1958[61]

Tests for memory

California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT)

Delis DC, Kramer JH, Kaplan E, Ober BA. The California verbal learning test: research edition, adult version. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation; 1987[62]

Digit Span Test

Ramsay MC, Reynolds CR. Separate digits tests: a brief history, a literature review, and a reexamination of the factor structure of the Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL). Neuropsychol Rev 1995;5:151–171[63]

Sentence Span Task

Daneman M, Carpenter PA. Individual differences in working memory and reading. J Verbal Learning Verbal Behav 1980;19(4):450–466[64]

Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT)

Schmidt M. Rey auditory verbal learning test: a handbook. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services; 1996[65]

Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III)

Wechsler D. A standardised memory scale for clinical use. J Psychol 1945;19:87–95[66]

Word Span Task

Conway AR, Kane MJ, Bunting MF, Hambrick DZ, Wilhelm O, Engle RW. Working memory span tasks: a review and a user's guide. Psychon Bull Rev 2005;12:769–786[67]

Manual dexterity tests

Modified Characteristic of Amplification Tool (COAT)

Sandridge S, Newman C. Improving the efficiency and accountability of the hearing aid selection process - use of the COAT. AudiologyOnline.com. https://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/improving-efficiency-and-accountability-hearing-995. 2006. Accessed February 9, 2019[68]

Nine-Hole Peg Test of manual dexterity

Feys P, Lamers I, Francis G, et al. The Nine-Hole Peg Test as a manual dexterity performance measure for multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler J 2017;23(5):711–720[69]

Purdue Dexterity Test

Robbins R. Purdue Pegboard Manual Dexterity Test. https://ezinearticles.com/?Purdue-Pegboard-Manual-Dexterity-Test&id=3728162. 2010. Accessed February 13, 2020[70]

Practical Hearing Aid Skills Test–Revised (PHAST-R)

Doherty KA, Desjardins JL. The Practical Hearing Aids Skills Test-Revised. Am J Audiol 2012;21(1):100–105[71]

Vision tests

Snellen Chart for Visual Acuity (Near and Far)

https://www.reference.com/health/use-snellen-chart-test-near-far-vision-908fde7db0548ff [72]

Visual Search and Attention Test (VSAT)

Ebner NC, Frazier I, Ellis D. Visual Search and Attention Test. In: Kreutzer J, DeLuca J, Caplan B. (eds). Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. New York, NY: Springer; 2016[73]


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# 1.3

Understanding the Client's Self-Perception, Motivation, Communication Needs, and Treatment Goals

Objective

To complement the case history taken so far, it is important to examine the self-reported communication difficulties experienced by the client (considering the assessment of activity limitations and participation restrictions). This assessment will intricately link to the non-auditory and auditory assessment. It should cover the client's hearing and communication needs at home, at work or in education, and in social situations; any psychosocial difficulties related to hearing; the client's expectations and motivations with respect to their hearing loss; and any restrictions on everyday life, because of their severe and profound hearing loss and the degree and type of support that can be expected from family and other significant communication partners.[75]

All this information can be used by the hearing care professional and the client to set goals to structure their treatment plan.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 1.3.)

A full social history of the client's circumstances should be taken, which should include living arrangements, employment, social interactions, and hobbies and give the professional an overview of what their life looks like on daily basis, particularly around levels of social isolation/interactions.

  1. Hearing care professionals should interview the client to get a thorough assessment of their current hearing needs. This will help determine any factors that could impact on the client's motivation, unrealistic expectations, appropriate amplification, and other treatment options. In particular, the client's current communication strategies should be assessed for their effectiveness.

  2. The needs analysis could be completed using a self-report instrument (with open-ended questions) such as the Client-Orientated Scale of Improvement (COSI), the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit/Difference Profile (GHABP and GHADP), or the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ-12). These questionnaires then later assess whether the respective treatment improved the client's specific needs (to determine benefit and satisfaction levels at their follow-up). See sections 2.2 and 5.0 and [Table 3] .

  3. Further development of self-report tools for people with severe and profound hearing loss is required.

  4. Consideration of the impact of the client's hearing loss on their close friends and family (third-party disability) should also be considered as part of the needs assessment to develop effective intervention strategies.

  5. The role of communication partners should be examined to assess what strategies they employ to communicate the level of emotional support they provide and if they are involved in any of the device management. See [Table 3].

Table 3

Useful Tools for Understanding the Client's Self-Perception, Motivation, Communication Needs, and Treatment Goals

Tool

Reference

Expectation questionnaires

Expected Consequences of Hearing Aid Ownership (ECHO)

Cox RM, Alexander GC. Expectations about hearing aids and their relationship to fitting outcome. J Am Acad Audiol 2000;11(7):368–382[75]

Characteristic of Amplification Tool (COAT)

Sandridge S, Newman C. Improving the efficiency and accountability of the hearing aid selection process - use of the COAT. AudiologyOnline.com. https://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/improving-efficiency-and-accountability-hearing-995. 2006. Accessed February 9, 2019[68]

Needs analysis questionnaires

Client-Orientated Scale of Improvement (COSI)

Dillon H, James A, Ginis J. Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) and its relationship to several other measures of benefit and satisfaction provided by hearing aids. J Am Acad Audiol 1997;8:27–43[76]

Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP)

Gatehouse S. Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile: derivation and validation of client centered outcome measures for hearing aid services. J Am Acad Audiol 1999;10:80–103[77]

Glasgow Hearing Aid Difference Profile (GHADP)

Gatehouse S. Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile: derivation and validation of client centered outcome measures for hearing aid services. J Am Acad Audiol 1999;10:80–103[77]

Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE)

Ventry IM, Weinstein BE. The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly: A new tool. Ear Hear 1982;3(3):128–134[78]

Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA)

Newman C, Weinstein B, Jacobson G, Hug G. The Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults: psychometric adequacy and audiometric correlates. Ear Hear 1990;11(6):430–433[79]

Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ-12)

Noble W, Søgaard Jensen N, Naylor G, Bhullar N, Akeroyd M. A short form of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale suitable for clinical use: The SSQ12. Int J Audiol 2013;52(6):409–412[80]

Measures for communication partners

The Hearing Impairment Impact-Significant Other Profile (HII-SOP)

Preminger J, Meeks S. The Hearing Impairment Impact Significant Other Profile (HIT-SOP): a tool to measure hearing loss-related quality of life in spouses of people with hearing loss. J Am Acad Audiol 2012;23(10):807–23[81]

Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR)

Scarinci N, Worrall L, Hickson L. The effect of hearing impairment in older people on the spouse: development and psychometric testing of the Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR). Int J Audiol 2009;48(10):671–683[82]

Family Oriented Communication Assessment and Solutions (FOCAS)

Crowhen D, Turnbull B. FOCAS: Family oriented communication assessment and solutions: a new holistic tool for performance hearing needs assessments. Hearing Review. https://www.hearingreview.com/practice-building/focas-family-oriented-communication-assessment-solutions. 2018;20–26[83]

IDA Institute tools

Motivation Tools (the line, the box and the circle)

https://idainstitute.com/tools/motivation_tools/?tx_idatoolbox_toolboxpagelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Toolbox&cHash=0d5d18956ebeaf1aef89cf06d78f3350 [84]

Goal Sharing for Partners (GPS)

https://idainstitute.com/tools/communication_partners/?tx_idatoolbox_toolboxpagelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Toolbox&cHash=b0753dadbeb8cb94fd02cb5294fd3407 [85]

Living Well Tools

https://idainstitute.com/tools/living_well/?tx_idatoolbox_toolboxpagelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Toolbox&cHash=9751b11308f242e60f8a2bebe98c2706 [86]

My hearing explained

https://idainstitute.com/tools/my_hearing_explained/?tx_idatoolbox_toolboxpagelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Toolbox&cHash=e006f3d399455466d5f4c07f9d983179 [87]


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# 1.4

Developing a Comprehensive Treatment Plan

Objective

The final part of the assessment is to use all the information gathered so far to counsel the client and their communication partner on the results of the assessment and undertake joint decision making to complete the treatment plan.

Based on the analysis of:

  • The pure tone audiogram, speech testing results, and the impact the hearing loss might have on communication.

  • Any relevant audiological and non-audiological history which may influence any treatment option plus assessment of current communication strategies.

  • Priorities from the goals set in the needs analysis.

Options for managing their hearing needs should be discussed, outlining the potential benefits and limitations of each option. All options should promote independence and encourage self-management. This understanding is established through a process of counseling, information sharing, education, and discussion.

  • Commonly this will include the fitting of hearing aids as part of the treatment plan. See section 2.0.

  • Counseling and rehabilitative support is essential. See section 3.1.

  • Communication tactics, speech reading and advice on making the most of their hearing is vital for people with severe and profound hearing loss and should not be overlooked. It is particularly important to link this information back to their needs analysis. See section 3.2.

  • Assistive listening devices that work on their own and/or with hearing aids should be routinely discussed, linking back to their needs analysis. Important aspects are consideration of remote microphone systems to improve communication in adverse situations and a practical demonstration of any appropriate device offered. See sections 2.2.1, 2.2.2, and 3.4.

  • Referral for a cochlear implant evaluation if appropriate. See section 2.3.

  • Signposting/referring on to other organizations and support groups for people with hearing loss. See section 3.3.

  • Referral for medical or surgical treatments, if these might be suitable.

  • These options are then recorded in a treatment plan.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 1.4.)

  1. Hearing care professionals should conduct all the procedures outlined in a person-centered manner, which is linguistically and culturally sensitive.

  2. Hearing care professionals should recognize that the client is an expert about the impact of their hearing loss.

  3. Amplification discussions should be transparent about what the client can expect from a change in any amplification. See section 2.0.

  4. Treatment options should always consider options wider than amplification. Technology is always improving but on its own is generally not enough to overcome the issues they are experiencing. See section 3.0.

  5. The conversations about cochlear implants need to be considered in terms of an opportunity for the client to explore another intervention which would improve auditory outcomes. See section 2.3.

  6. All treatment options should be agreed and recorded in a personalized care plan, considering the client's preferences, including goals, and giving the client a copy. See [Table 4].

    • This plan should be initially based on information gathered at the assessment phase and is determined in conjunction with the client and their communication partner.

    • It should be flexible and updated on an ongoing basis.

Table 4

Useful Tools for Developing a Comprehensive Treatment Plan

Tool

Reference

A usable interpretation of individual management plans within adult rehabilitation questions and answers

Appendix 3 NHS Scotland: Quality Standards for Adult Hearing Rehabilitation Services - Audiology Services Advisory Group. http://www.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/media/CLT/ResourceUploads/4076053/26fbc595-da89-4938-8c3d-a0511b747c2e.pdf. October 2008[88]

Example of an individual management plan (IMP)

Appendix 5of the NHS Scotland: Quality Standards for Adult Hearing Rehabilitation Services - Audiology Services Advisory Group. http://www.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/media/CLT/ResourceUploads/4076053/26fbc595-da89-4938-8c3d-a0511b747c2e.pdf. October 2008[88]


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# 2.

Selecting Technology

Key Concepts

There are a number of technologies available for the treatment of severe to profound hearing loss. These include;

 • Hearing aids.

 • Remote microphones.

 • Cochlear implants.

 • Bimodal fittings.

 • Other implantable devices.

  • Improve speech audibility while avoiding loudness discomfort.

  • Provide acceptable speech quality.

  • Preserve or enhance usable acoustic cues.

  • Improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), ease of listening, and listening comfort in background noise.

  • Support best possible communication via cell/mobile or landline telephones.

  • Have convenient and reliable connections to hearing-assistive technology.

  • Limit maximum output to avoid further hearing damage.

Severe and profound hearing loss impacts communication in several ways, including inadequate speech audibility; loudness sensitivity as a result of a small dynamic range; and susceptibility to background noise. In addition to threshold elevation, clients with severe and profound hearing loss are likely to experience poor frequency selectivity and distortion due to cochlear dead regions. Accordingly, these clients require hearing aids that achieve the following goals:


# 2.1

Prescribing and Fitting Hearing Aids

While there is a large body of evidence for clients with mild and moderate hearing loss, there is substantially less evidence that supports clinical decision-making when selecting and fitting hearing aids for clients with severe and profound hearing loss. In addition, some of this evidence was obtained using older-generation hearing aids with signal processing dissimilar to today's choices. In the sections that follow, evidence was drawn from all available sources: best practice for clients with mild and moderate loss, and expert opinion to recommend technology, selection, and fitting procedures for clients with severe and profound hearing loss.

The various features and components of an optimal hearing aid fitting are outlined in a short joint study (BAA and BSA, 2019).[89]


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# 2.1.1

Amplitude Compression

Objective

Clients with severe and profound hearing loss should be fitted with compression parameters which result in improved speech audibility and avoid distortion of usable speech cues. Output limiting should be appropriately set to avoid loudness discomfort or auditory damage due to over-amplification.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.1.1.)

  1. Clients with severe and profound hearing loss should be fitted using multichannel wide-dynamic range compression (WDRC) rather than linear amplification. This offers the greatest opportunity to maintain audibility and loudness comfort across a range of speech and sound levels in the environment.

  2. Hearing care professionals should use the lowest compression ratio that provides acceptable speech audibility. To maximize intelligibility of conversational speech while preventing loudness discomfort, low input levels may not be fully audible to some clients. It is not recommended to use high compression ratios to compress the entire speech range into the client's dynamic range, as those high compression ratios may distort useful speech cues such as variations in speech envelope. See [Table 5].

  3. The number of channels on the hearing aid should be sufficient to adjust frequency-gain characteristics for the client's audiogram and to provide suitable noise reduction and feedback management. High compression ratios (>3:1) across a very large number of channels should be avoided if possible, as there is some evidence that this may affect availability of spectral cues. There is a lack of evidence as to whether a larger number of channels will impact benefits of digital noise reduction or feedback reduction for clients with severe and profound loss.

  4. The existing evidence suggests that slow-to-moderate rate WDRC results in best outcomes for many clients with severe and profound hearing loss. Accordingly, it is suggested that fast-acting WDRC be used when it is determined that benefits (i.e., audibility of low-intensity speech sounds) will outweigh the drawbacks (i.e., modification of the speech envelope) for that client. Fast-acting WDRC amplification may be a reasonable choice when a specific hearing aid with short time constants is desirable for other reasons (such as assistive device compatibility).

  5. Extra care may be needed when transitioning clients who are accustomed to linear amplification to multichannel WDRC. In addition to counseling regarding expected differences (e.g., lower overall loudness) and benefits, some clients may benefit from a stepped adjustment period in which frequency-gain response is adjusted and trialed before increasing compression strength.

These recommendations are qualified by the fact that some studies on this topic used simulations or older hearing-aid technology, which were dissimilar to the systems in current-generation products.

Table 5

Useful Tools for Compression

Tool

Reference

Situational Hearing Aid Response Profile

Boys Town National Research Hospital. Situational Hearing Aid Response Profile (SHARP). Available at: http://audres.org/rc/sharp/. 2014[90]


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# 2.1.2

Device Choices and Programs

Objective

Clients with severe and profound hearing loss should be fitted with programs that maximize available speech information. Careful attention should be paid to providing noise reduction, including appropriately fit directionality and a program that facilitates convenient use of a remote microphone.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.1.2.)

  1. Bilateral fittings are recommended whenever feasible. See section 2.1.5 in cases of asymmetric hearing loss with little usable hearing in one ear.

  2. Automatic/adaptive directionality should be used rather than fixed directionality, to improve SNR when the signal and noise are spatially distinct and in varying locations.

  3. Binaural (“ear to ear”) wireless directionality should be used when possible, although the benefits over monaural directionality may be limited to specific listening environments.

  4. The hearing care professional should encourage the use of remote microphones which can be conveniently accessed. This may be in the form of an automatic program that activates when the remote microphone is active, or a manual program in which the listener selects remote microphone input. Control via cell/mobile phone apps, when available, can offer more control options than on-aid buttons or switches. See section 2.2.

  5. Feedback should be controlled via digital feedback management. Passive feedback management (i.e., within-band gain reduction) may limit speech audibility or restrict the amplified speech range for some clients. Active feedback management should be engaged, and its function verified.

  6. Custom earmolds with appropriate venting should be used rather than open or closed domes, as they will allow for maximum gain and minimize potential for feedback. To reduce feedback and other hearing aid problems, listeners with a history of occluding cerumen should be encouraged to schedule preventative cerumen removal.

  7. For the phone, binaural listening can improve phone communication compared with monaural telephone listening. To achieve this binaural (“ear to ear”) wireless streaming, telecoil or Bluetooth input should be used.


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# 2.1.3

Frequency Lowering for Clients with Severe and Profound Hearing Loss

Objective

Frequency lowering should be used in cases where the resulting improvements in high-frequency sound audibility result in better speech recognition than with traditional frequency-gain processing alone. After parameter adjustment, frequency lowering should be validated objectively and subjectively.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.1.3.)

  1. For clients with severe and profound loss, hearing aids should usually be fitted with frequency lowering turned off. See [Table 6].

  2. If frequency lowering is necessary to improve audibility of high-frequency speech cues for a particular listener, there is some evidence that frequency compression results in better outcomes than frequency transposition for clients with severe and profound hearing loss.

  3. Frequency lowering should be fit using a validated procedure, with the minimum strength necessary to provide adequate audibility, and evaluated during a trial period to ensure it is providing greater benefit than no frequency lowering. See [Table 6].

Table 6

Useful Tools for Frequency Compression and Transposition

Tool

Reference

Frequency lowering fitting assistants

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~alexan14/fittingassistants.html [91]

UWO Plurals Test

https://www.dslio.com/?page_id=314 [92]

Stimuli for verification of frequency lowering using Audioscan probe-microphone systems

https://www.dslio.com/?page_id=166 [93]

British Society of Audiology's practice guidance on the verification of hearing devices using probe microphone measurements

https://www.thebsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/REMS-2018.pdf [94]

Phoneme Perception Test

https://www.phonakpro.com/au/en/resources/fitting-and-tests/phoneme-perception-test/overview-phoneme.html [95]


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# 2.1.4

Prescriptions and Verification

Objective

Hearing aids for clients with severe and profound hearing loss should be fitted using real ear measures and a validated prescriptive target as the starting point for adjustments. After adjustment, real ear responses should be re-measured to evaluate audibility.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.1.4.)

  1. A validated prescriptive procedure should be used to guide frequency-gain settings.

  2. Probe-microphone or coupler measurements (with measured Real Ear to Coupler Difference) should be used to assess signal audibility. If probe-microphone measures are not possible, a coupler measure is preferable to using hearing aid default settings (i.e., “click and fit” or “initial fit”). See [Table 7].

  3. When hearing aid parameters are adjusted according to subjective judgments, every attempt should be made to maintain a level of speech audibility which supports aided speech recognition. A period of acclimatization or counseling may be useful especially when transitioning users to higher prescribed gain. Probe-microphone or coupler measurements should be used to confirm adequate signal audibility following adjustments.

  4. Input signals for real-ear or coupler measures should represent the signal of interest (usually speech). Static noise or tone signals may result in aid behavior that is atypical for speech amplification.

  5. Gain should be increased in cases of mixed hearing loss, usually by inputting bone-conduction thresholds when calculating prescribed aided output.

  6. When dead regions are confirmed or suspected, gain may be provided in the frequency range of the dead region unless the client reports poor speech quality or loudness discomfort. See section 1.1.

Table 7

Useful Tools for Prescriptions and Verification

Tool

Reference

Software for NAL-NL2 prescriptive procedure

https://shop.nal.gov.au/epages/nal.sf/en_AU/ObjectPath=/Shops/nal/Categories/Products/Hearing_Aid_Fitting_Prescriptions [96]

BSA Verification (2018)

British Society of Audiology (2018) Practice Guidance on the verification of hearing devices using probe microphone measurements. Available at: https://www.thebsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/REMS-2018.pdf [94]


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# 2.1.5

Selecting Technology for Asymmetrically Severe and Profound Loss

Objective

When hearing loss is in the severe and profound range in only one ear, the level of hearing in the other ear should be considered in hearing aid–fitting decisions. Unilateral, bilateral, CROS, or BiCROS hearing aid fittings may be appropriate, depending on hearing thresholds, speech recognition, dynamic range, and the client's communication goals. Comprehensive guidelines for adult clients with severe and profound unilateral hearing loss has been published by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) in their Clinical Practice Guidelines (2015).[98] In this section, we review evidence related to the use of BiCROS amplification due to the population these guidelines focus on, that is, severe and profound hearing loss in the better ear.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.1.5.)

BiCROS amplification should be considered in cases of asymmetric hearing loss where one ear is unlikely to receive sufficient aided audibility to be useful or beneficial. As there is a lack of consistent evidence that speech in noise is improved with BiCROS versus monaural amplification in the better ear and because the speech-in-noise benefit will be affected by the specific environment, it is recommended that each client be encouraged to trial hearing aids with and without the transmitter in their everyday communication settings.

  1. Real ear response should be measured with and without the BiCROS transmitter and the transmitter response adjusted so that the intended frequency-gain response is maintained on the better ear. Selection of a BiCROS transmitter with adequate technology level and range of adjustments will facilitate adjustment of the transmitter response.

  2. To maximize recognition of speech in noise, both the receiver and transmitter components should be configured to have adaptive directionality. A convenient means of disabling the transmitter microphone, such as a volume control or on-off switch, may be useful in cases where the primary signal of interest is on the receiver side and the primary noise source on the transmitter side. When such features are included, the client should also be trained on their use.

  3. Provide education/counseling to the client about how rerouting devices work and when they may be of benefit, by demonstrating to the client that rerouting overcomes the head shadow.

  4. In addition to lack of binaural hearing aid benefit, auditory deprivation should be included in the shared decision making and counseling about whether binaural hearing aids or BiCROS amplification is better. Use of BiCROS amplification can result in auditory deprivation on the transmitter side, which may have long-term consequences for the client in terms of choice of ear for an implant or returning to a hearing aid in the future.


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# 2.1.6

Maximum Power Output and Threshold Shift

Objective

Hearing aid gain and maximum output should be constrained to prevent damaging sound levels.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.1.6.)

Due to the high sound levels produced by their hearing aids, clients with severe and profound loss are at risk for temporary and permanent threshold shift.

  1. Maximum output levels should be measured as real-ear sensation levels using narrow-band signals. See [Table 8].

  2. Compression limiting (rather than peak clipping) should be used to avoid distortion and limit signal output.

  3. The hearing care professional should use hearing aids with frequency-specific adjustments for maximum output. The ability to adjust maximum output in specific bands will allow for a careful balance of output control without unnecessary headroom reduction.

  4. Disabling the ability to increase manual volume controls above desired levels should be considered when the client is at risk of permanent threshold shift due to sound levels and unable to conservatively adjust volume (e.g., has poor dexterity or cognitive limitations). See section 1.2.

Table 8

Useful Tools for Maximum Power Output and Threshold Shift

Tool

Reference

SoundLog noise dosimeter app for iPhone

This free download, developed at NAL, measures noise levels and calculates noise exposure estimates. https://www.nal.gov.au/products/downloadable-software/soundlog/ [98]


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# 2.2

Prescribing and Fitting Remote Microphones

Key Concepts

When selecting remote microphone systems, the following should be considered:

 • The communication demands for the person with hearing loss.

 • The connectivity with other devices of interest.

 • Minimizing the number of components to the system.

 • Implications of charging options and battery life for the user.

 • Ability to interface with wireless technology in the community or workplace.

When verifying remote microphone systems, the following should be considered:

 • Equivalent output.

 • Minimal additional circuit noise.

 • No additional distortion.

 • Behavioral performance increases with use of remote microphones.

 • Comfortable listening is maintained.


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# 2.2.1

Considerations for Recommending and Managing ongoing Use of Remote Microphone Systems

Objective

Hearing aids and/or cochlear implants are the most commonly fitted technologies for adults with severe and profound hearing loss. However, such devices do not meet all the communication needs of this population and remote microphone technology can be used to improve performance, for example, when having conversations in noisy environments or when listening to a speaker at a distance.

The majority of research on such systems has been undertaken with children in classroom situations. The objective of this section is to summarize the evidence about recommending and managing the ongoing use of remote microphone systems for adults with severe and profound hearing loss. It also presents new evidence obtained in a recent qualitative study by Scarinci et al[100] that addressed this topic specifically.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.2.1.)

  1. Adults with severe and profound hearing loss can benefit from remote microphone systems in a range of situations and should be fully informed about them by hearing care professionals. This should be reviewed proactively on an ongoing basis. See section 1.3 and [Table 9].

  2. Communication partners of adults with severe and profound hearing loss experience third-party disability. This can be reduced when their partner makes use of remote microphone systems and they should be fully informed about them by hearing care professionals. See sections 1.3 and 1.4 and [Table 9].

  3. Having the opportunity to trial a remote microphone system is an essential part of decision-making for clients and communication partners.

  4. Hearing care professionals need to set goals with clients and communication partners for the use of remote microphone systems.

  5. Comprehensive instructions in a range of formats and ongoing education and support about remote microphone systems are needed for clients, communication partners, and hearing care professionals.

  6. The complexity of remote microphone systems should be reduced for the benefit of clients, communication partners, and hearing care professionals.

  7. Communication partners influence success with remote microphone systems and should be a part of decision-making, fitting, and ongoing management. See sections 1.3 and 1.4.

  8. There is a need to increase community awareness of remote microphone systems.

Table 9

Useful Tools for Prescribing and Fitting Remote Microphones

Tool

Reference

Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI)

Dillon H, James A, Ginis J. Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) and its relationship to several other measures of benefit and satisfaction provided by hearing aids. J Am Acad Audiol 1997;8:27–43[76]

Goal Sharing for Partners (GPS)

https://idainstitute.com/tools/communication_partners/goal_sharing_for_partners/ [100]

Family Oriented Communication Assessment and Solutions (FOCAS)

Crowhen D, Turnbull B. FOCAS: Family Oriented Communication Assessment and Solutions: a new holistic tool for performance hearing needs assessments. Hearing Review. https://www.hearingreview.com/practice-building/focas-family-oriented-communication-assessment-solutions. 2018;20–26[83]

TELEGRAM (Telephone, Employment, Legislation, Entertainment, Groups, Recreation, Alarms and Members of the family)

Thibodeau L. Maximizing communication via hearing assistance technology: plotting beyond the audiogram! Hear J 2004;57(11):46–51[101]


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# 2.2.2

Component Considerations for Remote Microphones

Objective

The various features and components of remote microphone systems are described in the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) Clinical Practice Guidelines: Remote Microphone Hearing Assistance Technologies.[103] The AAA guidelines focus on hearing-assistive technology for individuals from birth to 21 years. Many of the available features and rationale for selection are included and applicable to the young adult population with severe and profound hearing loss. Use of remote microphone systems, and therefore the component choice, for adults depends heavily on the communication demands experienced by the client.

Given the complexity of options available across manufacturers, the selection of remote microphone systems is ideally considered at the same time as the selection of the personal device, hearing aids, and/or cochlear implants. The benefit from such systems is most likely to increase with the simplicity of the arrangement. The hearing care professional should be aware that this can be impacted by the number of components that attach to a personal ear-level device ranging from two components such as audio shoe plus a wireless receiver to zero additional components such as a hearing aid/cochlear implant with wireless connectivity to a smartphone or a telecoil connected to a loop system. Another factor for simplicity that must be considered is the battery life and charging options. Some lifestyles that involve frequent travel make it difficult to work with multiple charging cords for transmitters/receivers.

Finally, the client's communication interactions at work, school, and the community must be considered to have optimal compatibility and maximum use of the features/components selected. Ideally, if a user enjoys theater, their personal remote microphone system could connect to the assistive technology provided at the performance hall in their community. Similarly, a personal remote microphone system would connect to the conference microphone provided at work for group meetings if applicable for persons in employment settings. It is very likely that remote microphone systems provided in higher education could be same as the client's personal system such that some components could be shared while enrolled in that program.


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.2.2.)

When used correctly, the remote microphone system will provide benefit in challenging communication situations beyond that obtained with the local microphone system (hearing aid and/or cochlear implant) according to the client's communication demands.

  1. The system should provide wireless connectivity to components of interest to the client; examples include the client's smartphone, television, vehicle audio signals, inductive loop microphones, etc. See section 2.2.1.

  2. The system should be composed of the minimal number of components to facilitate troubleshooting and minimize repairs in bilateral/bimodal arrangements with consideration of the financial constraints for the client.

  3. The charging options and battery life should meet the communication needs and lifestyle of the client.

  4. The system should efficiently interface with other assistive technology that may be provided based on requirements in employment and/or higher education settings. See section 3.4.


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# 2.2.3

Remote Microphone Verification

Objective

The use of remote microphone systems has been shown to provide significant benefit for adults who use amplification to compensate for all degrees of hearing loss. After selecting and fitting the remote microphone systems, the particular device should be verified with both electroacoustic and behavioral measures. The remote microphone system that delivers the signal via the personal hearing aid, such as a direct-audio input via a frequency modulated (FM) or digital modulation (DM) system, can be evaluated using existing electroacoustic test equipment and couplers.

Three documents that relate to the verification of remote microphone systems include the ANSI S3.47 standard for “Specification of Hearing Assistance Devices/Systems,”[103] the AAA,[102] and the EUHA Wireless remote microphone systems—configuration, verification, and measurement of individual benefit.[104]

The ANSI S3.47 standard[103] includes recommended electroacoustic measurements that are like those recommended in ANSI S3.22[105] standard for hearing aids and specific requirements for placement of the transmitting microphone and the receiver. These procedures allow comparison across remote microphone systems because prescribed input levels and equipment arrangements are used.[107]

The AAA[102] focuses on hearing-assistive technology for individuals from birth to 21 years. It is based on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2002) guidelines,[108] which focused on real-ear, electroacoustic, and behavioral evaluation procedures. There are specific protocols in Supplement A of the AAA guidelines[102] for the electroacoustic and behavioral evaluation of ear-level remote microphone systems when used with clients who wear hearing aids or cochlear implants or who have normal hearing. When fitting remote microphone systems, it is important that such electroacoustic verification be performed to ensure that the wireless signal is received by the listener at a level above that of the environmental signals processed through the hearing aid, resulting in a favorable SNR. Research with these protocols suggests that variations exist in electroacoustic performance across remote microphone systems even when tested with the same personal hearing aid device and highlights the importance of electroacoustic verification.[109] In addition to electroacoustic verification, behavioral verification may be performed. Typically, this is not necessary for adults with hearing aids because there is an abundance of research supporting the benefit that can be achieved. However, for verification of remote microphone systems for use by clients with cochlear implants, behavioral evaluation is necessary. Protocols are suggested in both the AAA (2011)[102] and EUHA (2017)[104] guidelines and include comparison of speech recognition in noise performance when listening with the personal device alone (Cochlear Implant or Hearing Aid) to that obtained when listening with the personal device connected with the remote microphone system. Benefits achieved with remote microphone technology over use of the personal device alone may be as great as 61%.[21]

Following verification, the client and their communication partner will need instruction on the care and use of the chosen technology to realize the benefits of remote microphone systems in their real-world environments. In addition to the electroacoustic and behavioral verification in the clinical setting, the validation of the benefit depends on outcome measures following use of the remote microphone systems in everyday communication settings. A comprehensive tool to verify benefit across multiple communication activities is called the TELEGRAM[102] which allows rating of difficulty with and without the remote microphone systems for communication on the Telephone, Employment, Entertainment, Groups, Recreation, Alarms. Ratings are also determined for the client's knowledge of legislation relating to assistive technology and their members of their family with whom they may frequently communicate. See [Table 10].


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.2.3.)

  1. If a hearing aid is part of the remote microphone systems, it should first be evaluated to ensure adequate function as described in section 2.1.4 “Hearing aids: Prescriptions and verification.”

  2. The output of the remote microphone systems should not exceed that of the hearing aid.

  3. The remote microphone system should not add significant additional circuit noise.

  4. The remote microphone system should not cause an increase in distortion, as described in ANSI S3.47.[103]

  5. Electroacoustic verification should indicate that the frequency response of the personal hearing aid alone matches the frequency response when the hearing aid is coupled with a remote microphone.

  6. As observed in the clinical setting, the client's behavioral performance with the remote microphone system should be significantly better than without it, as measured by the AAA, 2011[102] method (see the description in Appendix 1: section 2.2.3, Recommendation 6).

Table 10

Useful Tools for Remote Microphone Verification

Tool

Reference

TELEGRAM (Telephone, Employment, Legislation, Entertainment, Groups, Recreation, Alarms, and Members of the family

Thibodeau L. Maximizing communication via hearing assistance technology: Plotting beyond the audiogram! Hear J. 2004; 57(11): 46–51[101]

Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI)

Dillon H, James A, Ginis J. Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) and its relationship to several other measures of benefit and satisfaction provided by hearing aids. J Am Acad Audiol 1997;8:27–43[76]

Goal Sharing for Partners (GPS)

https://idainstitute.com/tools/communication_partners/goal_sharing_for_partners/ [100]


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# 2.3

Referral for a Cochlear Implant

Key Concepts

Globally, the criteria for cochlear implants vary and uptake for adults can be low for a variety of reasons. Hearing health professionals should:

 • Be comfortable in starting the conversation with clients.

 • Understand the benefits of bimodal fittings.

 • Understand the limitations of other implantable devices for this population.


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# 2.3.1

Be Comfortable in Starting the Conversation with Clients on Cochlear Implant

Objective

Evidence shows that for the appropriate candidates, there are large, life-changing benefits postimplantation, the magnitude of which cannot be achieved using hearing aid technology alone. Educating and counseling our clients regarding the continuum of available hearing technologies equips them with the knowledge that hearing aids need not be the final stop on their hearing journey. Conventionally, aided acoustic hearing may not afford high levels of speech understanding alone but when combined with a cochlear implant, some bimodal listeners demonstrate significantly higher speech understanding and sound quality than provided by the cochlear implant or hearing aid alone.


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.3.1.)

  1. Ensure that your client's hearing aid fitting is optimal and that additional technologies such as remote microphones and other assistive listening devices have been prescribed where appropriate. See sections 2.0 and 2.2.

  2. Understand your national/local criteria for cochlear implant referrals. Candidacy criteria for each country/region are different and it is vital to know which of your clients would be suitable candidates, including when bilateral cochlear implantation may be an option.

  3. Consider referral for a cochlear implant long before the point of failure with hearing aids. Hearing aids need not be the final stop on their hearing journey.

  4. Start the conversation by introducing the cochlear implant as a part of a continuum of care that starts with hearing aid use and ultimately progresses to cochlear implant use. See [Table 11].

  5. Ensure your client's chances of achieving their maximum auditory potential by beginning the conversation about cochlear implant early in their audiological care. The conversation can start well before your client reaches criteria levels.

  6. Referral by the hearing care professional is in essence a suggestion that their client seeks additional information about cochlear implants. Candidacy will be determined by a multidisciplinary team.

  7. Encourage clients to consider assessment for a cochlear implant and help them recognize that they are agreeing only to an assessment and not consenting to implantation at that point.

  8. Keep the referral pathway simple and clear. Hearing care professionals should make connections with their local cochlear implant centers to encourage queries and understand the local pathway.

  9. Audit your performance regarding cochlear implant referral: monitor how many of your clients enquired about implants and the number, quality, and outcome of referrals. Add a section in the notes template for people with severe and profound hearing loss specifically about CI referral, to support continuity of care and audit of CI referral counseling in a service.

  10. The hearing care professional should feel confident in returning to this conversation at regular points in the client pathway, as it is often a process rather than a one-off juncture.

Table 11

Useful Tools for starting the Cochlear Implant Conversation with Clients

Tool

Reference

Practical guidance on assessing and counseling an adult for a CI referral section in “It's time to talk about cochlear implants”

British Academy of Audiology: (BAA Guideline) It is time to talk about Cochlear Implants.

https://www.baaudiology.org/app/uploads/2020/04/CI_BAA_Dickinson_FINAL_BAAtitle4.pdf [109]

An information leaflet from your local cochlear implant center

A demo implant and speech processor, available on request from manufactures. Find out which implants your local center uses

The British Cochlear Implant Group (BCIG) Web site holds a great deal of general information on CIs and what to expect following a referral

https://www.bcig.org.uk [110]

Local recipients' group, e.g., the National Cochlear Implant Users Association (NCIUA) provides a wealth of information for potential candidates for implantation and their families, including a useful booklet titled “Cochlear Implants: The Experiences of Adults. What's it like actually having a cochlear implant?” which can be ordered in bulk at a reasonable cost

https://www.nciua.org.uk/your-implant/user-experiences/ [111]


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# 2.3.2

Understand the Benefits of Bimodal Fittings

Objective

The continuum of care which starts with hearing aid use and ultimately progresses to cochlear implant achieves the maximum auditory potential by using both ears. A bimodal fitting is one with a hearing aid on one ear and a cochlear implant on the other. Aided acoustic hearing may not afford high levels of speech understanding alone, and when combined with a cochlear implant, bimodal listeners demonstrate significantly higher speech understanding and sound quality than provided by the cochlear implant or a hearing aid alone.


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.3.2.)

  1. The hearing care professional should expect that cochlear implant candidates will continue to use and receive ongoing care of their hearing aid following implantation.

  2. Bimodal listeners demonstrate significantly higher speech understanding and sound quality than provided by the cochlear implant or hearing aid alone. See [Table 12].

Table 12

Useful Tools for Bimodal Fittings

Tool

Reference

Guidelines part 2 bimodal fitting

Practical guidance and background information and evidence for fitting a hearing aid with a contralateral CI

Gifford R, et al. Guidelines for best practice in the audiological management of adults with severe and profound hearing loss. Part 2: Bimodal fitting (2020, unpublished data)


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# 2.3.3

Understand the Limitations of Other Implantable Devices for This Population

Objective

The selection of available auditory implants has expanded in recent years such that there are now several potential treatment options. As a result, hearing care professionals not working with auditory implants may face some confusion regarding the best options for their clients.

Middle ear implants are designed to use mechanical energy to drive the inner ear with an implanted vibrational transducer attached to the ossicles, oval window, or round window membrane. Bone conducting hearing implants (also referred to as bone anchored implants) utilize bone conduction from an externally worn sound processor to stimulate the internal auditory system via percutaneous coupling to an osseointegrated titanium implant, transcutaneous magnetic coupling to an implanted titanium implant, or transcutaneous stimulus delivery via conventional oscillatory bone conduction transduction with the sound processor placed on a soft band or hard band—similar to bone conduction audiometry.

Middle ear implants require a functional and intact middle ear system and both middle ear implants and bone conducting hearing implants require sufficiently functioning inner hair cells for effective cochlear stimulation, as 95% of afferent auditory nerve fibers are innervated by our inner hair cells.

Auditory brainstem implants are used to treat total deafness in both ears caused by damage to the 8th nerve as a result of tumors or surgery, where hearing is not improved by hearing aids and/or cochlear implants. The procedure is suitable for a small proportion of patients who have complete hearing loss for whom no alternative treatment would restore hearing. Procedure numbers are generally low and are completed in a limited number of hospitals.

Individuals with bilateral severe and profound sensorineural hearing loss as discussed in these guidelines have a higher likelihood of having cochlear dead regions limiting their benefit from hearing technologies located peripherally to the lesion—namely extracochlear technologies such as hearing aids, middle ear implants, and bone conducting hearing implants.


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 2.0, 2.3.3.)

  1. For individuals with bilateral severe and profound sensorineural hearing loss, typically neither middle ear implants nor bone anchored implants are viable treatment options.

  2. Hearing care professionals should seek information and support from relevant medical professionals for specific clients with auditory brainstem implants.


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# 3.

Rehabilitation: Psychosocial and Communication

Key Concepts

All clients with severe and profound hearing loss need rehabilitation to ensure they make best use of the information delivered by their hearing devices. This includes:

 • Help in adjusting to life with severe and profound hearing loss

 • Training to develop effective communication strategies, behaviors, and attitudes, including help to understand how they can modify the communication behavior of communication partners in their lives

 • Contact with peers to provide support and to reduce isolation

 • Guidance in selecting and using appropriate assistive listening device solutions


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# 3.1

Help in Adjusting to Life with Severe and Profound Hearing Loss

Objective

Technology plays an important role in treatment options for severe and profound hearing loss. How well a client responds to any audiological intervention depends in part as to how well they can adjust to their everyday communication challenges and how they manage their personal relationships. The hearing care professional must therefore take steps to understand where they are in making this adjustment and offer support where needed to help them manage their hearing in everyday life, beyond providing hearing technologies.


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 3.1.)

  1. The hearing care professional should always check whether their client is able to follow their discussions in the clinic. The hearing care professional should be familiar with the local communication support options or have other strategies for communication such as typing notes throughout the appointment and sharing them with the client at the end. See section 1.1.

  2. The hearing care professional should use appropriate language and terminology individualized to the client in any information and advice. Failure to check the client's understanding is the single most common reason for clients' limited compliance with recommendations and hearing care professionals' failure to offer appropriate interventions.

  3. The hearing care professional should explore each client's individual attitudes to the severe communication challenges they face. These vary with personality, impact of the stigma of hearing loss, family and other circumstances, changes in their identity through hearing loss, sources of support, additional health issues, and hearing history. See section 1.3 and [Table 13]. This information should feed into the individualized person-centered counseling to support personal adjustment.

  4. The hearing care professional should explore and address the psychosocial impact of the hearing loss, such as shame, guilt, anger, and embarrassment and acknowledge these in addition to providing strategies to reduce this. This should be delivered in a person-centered approach with the hearing care professional partnering the client, empowering them, and supporting them to adhere to the treatment interventions they have considered. See section 1.4.

  5. The hearing care professional should include the third-party disability information gathered at the diagnostic assessment to cover information and support for the client's communication partners. See sections 1.3 and 2.2.1 and [Table 13].

  6. To bring about the behavior change necessary for clients with severe and profound hearing loss to achieve maximum amplification satisfaction and outcomes, the hearing care professional should go far beyond giving instruction/information. Use should be made of motivational engagement and the client should be offered the opportunity to develop effective self-management techniques.

  7. More than any other client group, the hearing care professional should explore the client's beliefs about their outcomes with all the chosen interventions outlined in their individual management plan and help manage expectations at regular parts of their pathway. See sections 1.3 and 1.4.

  8. The incidence of clinical depression and anxiety in clients with severe and profound hearing loss is high. Early consideration and onward referral where appropriate are essential to ensure the client can derive maximum benefit from hearing devices and rehabilitation. See section 1.2.

  9. Where appropriate the hearing care professional should help educate the client with self-management strategies, for example, on conversation repair strategies, lipreading, and adapting their environment.

Table 13

Useful Tools for helping Clients in Adjusting to Life with Severe and Profound Hearing Loss

Tool

Reference

Adjusting to life with severe and profound hearing loss

IDA institute tools

 Motivation Tools (the line, the box, and the circle)

https://idainstitute.com/tools/motivation_tools/?tx_idatoolbox_toolboxpagelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Toolbox&cHash=0d5d18956ebeaf1aef89cf06d78f3350 [84]

 Goal Sharing for Partners (GPS)

https://idainstitute.com/tools/communication_partners/?tx_idatoolbox_toolboxpagelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Toolbox&cHash=b0753dadbeb8cb94fd02cb5294fd3407 [100]

 Living Well Tools

https://idainstitute.com/tools/living_well/?tx_idatoolbox_toolboxpagelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Toolbox&cHash=9751b11308f242e60f8a2bebe98c2706 [86]

Expectation questionnaires

 Expected Consequences of Hearing Aid Ownership (ECHO)

Cox RM, Alexander GC. Expectations about hearing aids and their relationship to fitting outcome. J Am Acad Audiol 2000;11:368–382[75]

 Characteristic of Amplification Tool (COAT)

Sandridge S, Newman C. Improving the efficiency and accountability of the hearing aid selection process - use of the COAT. AudiologyOnline.com. https://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/improving-efficiency-and-accountability-hearing-995. 2006. Accessed February 9, 2019[68]

Measures for communication partners

 The Hearing Impairment Impact-Significant Other Profile (HII-SOP)

Preminger J, Meeks S. The hearing impairment impact significant other profile (HII-SOP): a tool to measure hearing loss-related quality of life in spouses of people with hearing loss. J Am Acad Audiol 2012;23(10):807–823[81]

 Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR)

Scarinci N, Worrall L, Hickson L. The effect of hearing impairment in older people on the spouse: development and psychometric testing of the Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR). Int J Audiol 2009;48(10):671–683[82]

 Family Oriented Communication Assessment and Solutions (FOCAS)

Crowhen D, Turnbull B. FOCAS: Family oriented communication assessment and solutions: a new holistic tool for performance hearing needs assessments. Hearing Review. https://www.hearingreview.com/practice-building/focas-family-oriented-communication-assessment-solutions. 2018;20–26[83]


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# 3.2

Training to Develop Effective Communication Practices with Client and Family

Objective

All clients with severe and profound hearing loss will need to supplement their amplified hearing with speech reading and other communication strategies. Communication training, including auditory training, is a process designed to enhance the ability to interpret auditory experiences by maximizing residual hearing and by using other cues, for example, visual cues to add further information to the listening situation.

The hearing care professional needs to understand the client's presenting communication competence and style to recommend an appropriate program of communication training. In many circumstances, this type of support may be provided outside the clinic; so, the hearing care professional must maintain a good network of onward referral agencies.


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 3.2.)

It is essential to discuss with the client how effective they believe their current communication strategies are, in their family, social life, workplace, and health care settings. If possible, direct observation of how the client communicates with the communication partner should be undertaken to supplement the client's self-report.

  1. It is important to characterize the individual needs of each client and to tailor the communication training accordingly.

  2. Time should be devoted to understanding the client's motivations and their perceived self-efficacy when considering how to improve their competence.

  3. Where appropriate, the client will need help to understand the importance of devoting time and effort to communication training.

  4. Most clients with severe and profound hearing loss will need communication skills training both on a one-to-one and on a group basis. If severely maladaptive strategies are observed, onward signposting to an external agency is required. See [Table 14].

  5. Information should be provided on local speech reading classes, self-help groups, and other communication strategy training opportunities, together with some indication of how well suited such provision is for the client's personal situation. Assistance with establishing contact with suitable providers should be offered. This requires the hearing care professional to maintain up-to-date knowledge of what is available in their local community and a good network with other agencies offering rehabilitation programs. See [Table 14].

  6. The client should always be signposted to communication training and practice materials available online including synthetic avatars, DVD, and printed materials, either as a complement or as an alternative to attending a live course. See [Table 14].

  7. The self-management of the client should be supported to enhance the motivation of the client and to achieve the best results.

  8. Attention should be given to the communication strategies employed by the client's communication partners, with appropriate training made available to them where necessary.

  9. The client should be offered training in how to bring about behavioral change in others so that they can manage communication partners who are unwilling or unable to attend for direct training.

Table 14

Useful Tools for training to Develop Effective Communication Practices with Client and Family

Tool

Reference

Online rehabilitation tools and training modules

Hearingsuccess portal

Comprehensive place for online auditory training resources to support the journey to better hearing

www.HearingSuccess.com [112]

Computer-based auditory training programs

Henshaw H, Ferguson MA. Efficacy of individual computer-based auditory training for people with hearing loss: a systematic review of the evidence. PLoS One 2013;8:e62836[113]

Rehabilitation groups

Group sessions to support self-management and to support clients with skills to live with their hearing loss. Groups can be either led by clinicians or by peers

Active communication education (group program)

https://shrs.uq.edu.au/active-communication-education-ace [114]

IDA Institute tools

Motivation tools (the line, the box, and the circle)

https://idainstitute.com/tools/motivation_tools/?tx_idatoolbox_toolboxpagelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Toolbox&cHash=0d5d18956ebeaf1aef89cf06d78f3350 [84]

Group aural rehabilitation

https://idainstitute.com/tools/group_ar/?tx_idatoolbox_toolboxpagelist%5Bcontroller%5D=Toolbox&cHash=cae163518219f0d96686399844027fbf [115]

Speech reading

Online speech reading and lipreading practice tools (free)

https://www.lipreading.org/ [116]

http://www.storiesforlipreading.org.uk/ [117]

https://www.lipreadingpractice.co.uk [118]

https://www.wikihow.com/Read-Lips [119]

https://www.readourlips.ca/ [120]


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# 3.3

Contact with Peers to Provide Support and to Reduce Isolation

Objective

If not managed well, the feelings of isolation, marginalization, and loneliness associated with severe and profound hearing loss can result in the client withdrawing from social contact, leading to adverse mental health consequences and increased risk of accelerated cognitive decline. The hearing care professional should always facilitate clients with severe and profound hearing loss to meet others with a similar degree of hearing loss, as peer support is the most effective and efficient way of averting these consequences.

Peer support plays an important role in adult hearing rehabilitation as peer support opportunities create a wider, more realistic understanding of the consequences of hearing loss for both the client and their wider support network. They share a range of hearing loss journeys which can be helpful for clients with severe and profound hearing loss. They help address the stigma, coming to terms with the severity of the hearing loss and provide a unique perspective that complements that of the hearing care professionals.


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 3.3.)

  1. All clients with severe and profound hearing loss should be encouraged to meet others who share a similar hearing history and degree of hearing loss, but most importantly share an understanding of the problems they are facing. This can be achieved through recommending local support or communication groups and/or virtual channels, e.g., online forums. See [Table 15].

  2. Where possible, the hearing care professional should build and maintain a small network of adults with severe and profound hearing loss who are well-adjusted and who agree to be contacted by new clients. Training in managing confidentiality and client boundaries must be made available to these adults, with the opportunity for debriefing on a regular (though not necessarily frequent) basis.

  3. The most powerful way to achieve peer support is through small-group experiences in a carefully managed framework. These might be highly structured groups, or more self-directed; what matters is that clients can meet other people facing similar challenges to share experiences and solutions.

  4. It can be invaluable to include communication partners in such groups.

  5. Group experiences may be offered in the clinic setting but are often available through external organizations such as local authorities and charities. The hearing care professional should maintain up-to-date knowledge of all such services and how to make referrals.

  6. Referral into such a service is an urgent priority if the client has had a sudden loss or appears to have largely withdrawn from family and social life. Many clients identify these experiences as a turning point in coming to terms with and actively managing their hearing loss.

  7. Information should be provided on all local and national organizations that offer contact, information, and support beyond the clinic (e.g., hard of hearing clubs, self-help groups, lipreading classes, associations for people of specific professional backgrounds). Help should be offered in identifying which organization or organizations are most relevant to each client with severe and profound hearing loss given the client's location, circumstances, and preferences.

Table 15

Useful Tools for Contact with Peers to Provide Support and to Reduce Isolation

Tool

Reference

Find your local association

U.S. organization providing information and peer contact

https://www.hear-it.org/ [121]

UK self-help charity for people with acquired severe/profound hearing loss

https://www.nadp.org.uk/ [122]

Contact your local or national audiology association for information about established services, e.g.:

https://www.hearinglink.org [123]

Hearing Link UK: UK charity facilitating peer contact and delivering group-based peer programs

http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/ [124]

UK charity supporting people with hearing loss, deafness, and tinnitus

Contact your national association of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

https://www.ifhoh.org/ [125]

International Federation of Hard of Hearing People. International organization influencing policy

http://www.hearingloss.org [126]

Hearing Loss Association of America. U.S. umbrella organization for self-help groups

http://www.betterhearingaustralia.org.au/ [127]

Better Hearing Australia (National) Australian independent consumer organization

https://www.audicus.com/hearing-loss-support-groups/ [128]

Hearing Loss Association of America database


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# 3.4

Guidance in Selecting and Using Appropriate Assistive Listening Device Solutions

Objective

Hearing aids and cochlear implants have limitations for all listening situations and other devices can be useful either through device streaming or as standalone products. The hearing care professional needs to understand the client's most common or important communication situations (both near and far-field) to recommend appropriate systems to complement the hearing device, and then ensure that the client has an opportunity to trial these systems and practice with those that suit their needs best.


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 3.4.)

  1. Hearing care professionals should explore the situations that matter most for their clients. This should include both current activities and places the client used to enjoy but stopped attending when their hearing deteriorated (e.g., the theater, public meetings, and social gatherings). See sections 1.3 and 2.2 and [Table 16].

  2. The hearing care professional should maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the types of assistive listening solutions appropriate for each type of environment. This includes inductive loops, alerting devices, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi for acoustic information as well as text-based communication support systems (including captions, subtitles, and surtitles for live and recorded performances as well as personal communication systems), especially recent developments using cell/mobile phone technology at minimal or no cost. See section 2.2.

  3. Unless contraindicated, the hearing care professional should activate the t-coil where fitted and arrange for the client to experience a good working inductive loop, as this remains the most widespread and effective way to hear well in public spaces. See section 2.0.

  4. The client should be provided with the opportunity to try any potentially helpful assistive listening devices, ideally on location (e.g., their own home and a social club).

  5. If the clinic is not able to provide regularly updated assistive listening equipment and/or advice, relationships should be built with other local providers who can fulfill this requirement (e.g., charity or other hearing or sensory resource center).

  6. The hearing care professional should remain up to date with any local authority provision or other sources of financial assistance in purchasing devices.

  7. Where available, the client should be given information about hearing dogs and encouraged to explore their eligibility where interested.

Table 16

Useful Tools in Selecting and Using Appropriate Assistive Listening Device Solutions

Tool

Reference

 Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI)

Dillon H, James A, Ginis J. Client oriented scale of improvement (COSI) and its relationship to several other measures of benefit and satisfaction provided by hearing aids. J Am Acad Audiol 1997;8:27–43[76]

 Goal Sharing for Partners (GPS)

https://idainstitute.com/tools/communication_partners/goal_sharing_for_partners/ [100]

 Family Oriented Communication Assessment and Solutions (FOCAS)

Crowhen D, Turnbull B. FOCAS: Family oriented communication assessment and solutions: a new holistic tool for performance hearing needs assessments. Hearing Review. https://www.hearingreview.com/practice-building/focas-family-oriented-communication-assessment-solutions. 2018;20–26[83]

 TELEGRAM (Telephone, Employment, Legislation, Entertainment, Groups, Recreation, Alarms and Members of the family

Thibodeau L. Maximizing communication via hearing assistance technology: plotting beyond the audiogram! Hear J 2004;57(11):46–51[101]

Tools

 Apps such as LoopFinder which are emerging in the US have great potential, currently with very limited geographic coverage.

HLAA Web site: https://time2loopamerica.com/loop-locator/ [129]

 US ABLEDATA: database

Tools and technologies to enhance life: https://abledata.acl.gov [130]

 EU EASTIN: database

European assistive technology information network at www.eastin.eu [131]

 AU NED: database

https://ilcaustralia.org.au/ [132]

Independent Living Centres Australia National Equipment Database

 CA ORTC: organization

Ontario Rehabilitation Technology Consortium (Canada)

 Live performance

http://www.stagetext.org/about-stagetext/info-and-services/captions-subtitles-and-surtitles [133]

Hearing Dogs

 Find your local hearing dog provider

https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/ [134]

https://www.pawswithacause.org/what-we-do/assistance-dogs/hearing-dogs/ [135]

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/hearing-dogs/ [136]

https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52110-Assistance-dogs-for-the-deaf [137]


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# 4.

Tinnitus

Key Concepts

Consideration should be given to providing treatment focused on tinnitus early in the rehabilitation process for clients with severe and profound hearing loss.

Tinnitus management practices recommended in the literature are largely independent of degree of hearing loss and many are applicable with normal hearing. Tinnitus in the presence of severe and profound hearing loss is largely excluded in all the existing tinnitus guidelines (see later). The objective of this study is to identify, adapt, or create a set of recommendations that are specifically applicable to adults with severe and profound hearing loss.


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# 4.0

Management of Tinnitus in Severe and Profound Hearing Loss Objective

Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound in the absence of an external source. It is typically described by those who experience it as a ringing, hissing, buzzing, or whooshing sound and is thought to result from abnormal neural activity at some point or points in the auditory pathway which is erroneously interpreted by the brain as sound. Tinnitus can be either objective or subjective. Objective tinnitus refers to the perception of sound that can also be heard by the examiner and is usually due to blood flow or muscle movement. Most commonly, however, tinnitus is subjective; the sound is heard only by the person experiencing it and no source of the sound is identified. Tinnitus can be experienced acutely, recovering spontaneously within minutes to weeks, but is considered chronic and unlikely to resolve spontaneously when experienced for 3 months or more.

The objective of this document is to draw on evidence in the current scientific literature around tinnitus to identify, adapt, or create a set of best practice recommendations that are applicable specifically to adults with severe and profound hearing loss.


# 4.1

Medical Treatment

Objective

Subjective tinnitus is a highly complex condition with a multifactorial origin and, therefore, heterogeneous patient profiles. The hearing care professional should conduct a careful and thorough tinnitus history as part of the diagnostic assessment. A range of questionnaires are available to guide tinnitus history-taking (see [Table 1] above and [Table 17].). An assessment tool such as a questionnaire should also be used to track the progress of the tinnitus treatment.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 4.1)

  1. Otoscopic examination should exclude cerumen as a likely source of tinnitus from the constant wearing of earmolds.

  2. The hearing care professional should refer the client for ENT investigation to exclude underlying medical abnormalities and medical treatment to relieve the tinnitus. See section 1.1.

  3. The hearing care professional must refer the client for ENT investigation in the case of sudden onset of severe and profound hearing loss or acute tinnitus. This should be treated as a medical emergency and the client should be seen urgently. See section 1.1.

  4. Returning clients with long-standing tinnitus should be reviewed at regular intervals and referred to ENT if changes are reported in the absence of progression in the hearing loss. See section 1.1.


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# 4.2

Address the Hearing Loss

Objective

Subjective tinnitus affects 10 to 19% of the general population, increasing to as many as 30% of adults over the age of 50 years. The prevalence of tinnitus in individuals with hearing impairment is 50%, and a very similar percentage of tinnitus symptoms is observed in individuals with severe and profound hearing loss. For adults with profound hearing loss presenting for cochlear implantation, between 67 and 100% reported tinnitus. Tinnitus improved postsurgery in 28 to 51% of the cases and was abolished in 20% of the cases. However, there is no clear association between the severity of hearing loss and the severity of tinnitus perception (see [Table 17]).


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 4.2)

  1. It is vital to address the hearing loss as the first step in tinnitus management. If the hearing loss is aidable, then review the hearing aid fitting to ensure that the maximum audibility possible for environmental sounds as well as speech is achieved. See section 2.0.

  2. If the hearing loss is not aid-able, consider referral for cochlear implant assessment to address the hearing loss as the first line of tinnitus management. Counsel the client that treating the hearing loss is likely to bring some relief from tinnitus. See section 2.3.


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# 4.3

Therapies for Tinnitus

Objective

People with severe and profound hearing loss who suffer from a moderate to severe tinnitus are candidates for tinnitus specific therapy. Sound therapies, including sound enrichment strategies have limited benefits when severe and profound hearing loss is present. In the case of severe and profound hearing loss, Carlsson et al[8] found that 38% of those who reported tinnitus also reported their quality of life to be negatively impacted. It is recommended that a treatment focusing on tinnitus-related anxiety or depression must be given early in the rehabilitation process in clients with severe or profound hearing impairment.


#

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 4.3)

  1. Treatment using tinnitus noise generators in hearing aids should be used with extreme care when severe and profound hearing loss is present. Avoid applying masking noise in speech programs due to restricted dynamic range (reduced range between audibility and loudness discomfort) and the critical importance of sparse speech cues.

  2. When sound enrichment is used, choose a dedicated tinnitus noise generator or if the generator is already offered in a hearing aid, set up a separate-for-tinnitus-only hearing aid program. Given the severe and profound degree of hearing loss, ensure that the level of the enrichment sound is sufficient to be audible but not so loud as to be heard by a listener nearby.

  3. Simple sound therapies include the use of sound enrichment from sources already in the home such as the radio, TV, or HiFi music system. For severe and profound hearing loss, recommending this type of sound enrichment must be approached with care. Ensure that the volume required to be effective will not mask out important safety and environmental sounds such as phone, doorbell, and alarms or cause undue disturbance to family or neighbors.

  4. If the tinnitus is still disturbing, tinnitus-specific therapies are indicated. Referral for specialized tinnitus management should be considered. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a recommended, evidence-based treatment. The intention of CBT is to modify dysfunctional behaviors and beliefs of the patients to reduce the tinnitus symptoms (e.g., sleep disorders), and to increase daily life functioning. CBT is usually applied by psychologists or specially trained audiologists. Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is no longer recommended by current clinical guidelines but might provide relief to some individuals with tinnitus.

  5. Due to the severity of hearing loss, any tinnitus therapies should be delivered face-to-face to enable optimum communication, and therefore success.

  6. Consider referral for specialized treatment of anxiety and depression if these are suspected. Anxiety and depression are common cosymptoms of tinnitus and are generally more likely in individuals with severe and profound hearing loss. Any signs of clinical anxiety or depression should immediately initiate a referral to a suitable professional. See section 1.2.

  7. Further research should be undertaken on tinnitus with a severe and profound hearing loss. Further evidence-based recommendations are required for this specialized population.

Table 17

Useful Tools for Audiological Management of Tinnitus (Note that None are Specifically Designed for Severe and Profound Hearing Loss)

Tool

Reference

Tinnitus questionnaires

Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI)

The TFI is very useful to find the domains of life that are affected by the tinnitus (i.e., sleep).

Meikle MB, Henry JA, Griest SE, et al. The tinnitus functional index: development of a new clinical measure for chronic, intrusive tinnitus. Ear Hear 2012;33(2):153–176[138]

Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ)

Useful to measure distress related to tinnitus.

Wilson PH, Henry J, Bowen M, Haralambous G. Tinnitus reaction questionnaire: psychometric properties of a measure of distress associated with tinnitus. J Speech Hear Res 1991;34:197–201[37]

Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI)

Used to measure the impact of tinnitus on daily life.

Newman CW, Jacobson GP, Spitzer JB. Development of the tinnitus handicap inventory. Arch Otolaryngol 1996;122:143–148[38]

Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ)

The TQ is used to assess tinnitus severity and to evaluate the relationship between different aspects of complaint.

Hallam RS, Jakes SC, Hinchcliffe R. Cognitive variables in tinnitus annoyance. Brit J Clin Psychol 1998;27:213–222[39]

Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS)

The short survey can be administered as a screening tool to differentiate bothersome tinnitus from hearing difficulties.

Henry J, Griest S, Zaugg T, et al. Tinnitus and hearing survey: a screening tool to differentiate bothersome tinnitus from hearing difficulties. Am J Audiol 2015;24(1):66–77[40]

Tests for cognition/mental health

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs)

Note that people showing signs of clinical anxiety or depression should immediately be referred to a suitable professional.

Zigmond AS, Snaith RP. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scan 1983;67(6):361–370[54]

Advice on potential referrals to an ear, nose, and throat, clinic

Known conditions associated with tinnitus

See [Table 7] on page S20 of Cima RF, Mazurek B, Haider H, et al. A multidisciplinary European guideline for tinnitus: diagnostics, assessment, and treatment. HNO 2019;67(1):10–42[139]

Tinnitus support available at self-run associations

Self-run associations with tinnitus support

Your local or national association of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

International Federation of Hard of Hearing People: https://www.ifhoh.org/ [125]

Hearing Loss Association of America: http://www.hearingloss.org [126]

Better Hearing Australia: http://www.betterhearingaustralia.org.au/ [127] Better Hearing Australia (National) is Australia's largest independent consumer-based nonprofit organization for hearing loss.

Hearing Loss Association of America Database: https://www.audicus.com/hearing-loss-support-groups/ [128]


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# 5.

Measuring Outcomes and Long Term Management

Key Concepts

After assessment and interventions for the management of hearing loss, follow-up sessions are important in addressing the following:

 • Measurement of outcomes and assessment of treatment goals.

 • Exploring alternative interventions and screening for onward referral for cochlear implants or to other health professionals.

 • Ensuring appropriate ongoing care.


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# 5.1

Measurement of Patient-Reported Outcomes and Assessment of Treatment Goals

Objective

The assessment of outcomes is a key part of evidence-based clinical practice, to assess the effectiveness of interventions, to enhance and monitor individual care, and to evaluate services. Currently, there is general agreement on the importance of measuring outcomes, but poor consensus about the most appropriate assessment tools and no questionnaires developed specifically for those with severe and profound hearing loss.


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 5.1.)

  1. At present, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) represent the most effective way of capturing comprehensive information about benefit of an intervention.

  2. An outcome questionnaire should be used to assess functional performance, to identify need for amplification review, to help assess if goals have been met, and to identify needs for further rehabilitation. See sections 1.3 and 2.2.1. and [Table 18].

  3. For maximum sensitivity and clinical usefulness, outcome questionnaires should be specifically in the hearing domain.

  4. The chosen questionnaire should have proven reliability, validity, and sensitivity and have normative data available.

  5. Outcome questionnaires for this population should capture the change resulting from an intervention but not be restricted to unaided/aided comparisons, as many patients will be long-term hearing aid users.

  6. Future developments of alternative methods of capturing outcome data should be explored as they become available. For example, ecological momentary assessment offers potential, as it yields information that is less dependent on subjective recall.

  7. An outcome questionnaire should be produced specifically for this population.

Table 18

In the Absence of Population Specific Alternatives, the following Tools are Useful as Hearing Intervention Outcome Questionnaires for Clients with Severe and Profound Hearing Loss

Tool

Reference

Client-Orientated Scale of Improvement (COSI)

Individualized, based on up to five user-nominated goals, categorized and with improvement subjectively rated.

Dillon H, James A, Ginis J. Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) and its relationship to several other measures of benefit and satisfaction provided by hearing aids. J Am Acad Audiol 1997;8:27–43[76]

Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP)

Based on four standard and four user-nominated situations, assessing aspects of auditory disability, auditory handicap, and hearing aid benefit.

Gatehouse S. Glasgow hearing aid benefit profile: derivation and validation of client centered outcome measures for hearing aid services. J Am Acad Audiol 1999;10:80–103[77]

Glasgow Hearing Aid Difference Profile (GHADP)

Based on four standard and four user-nominated situations, assessing aspects of auditory disability, auditory handicap, and hearing aid benefit.

Gatehouse S. Glasgow hearing aid benefit profile: derivation and validation of client centered outcome measures for hearing aid services. J Am Acad Audiol 1999;10:80–103[77]

International Outcomes Inventory for Hearing Aids

(IOI-HA)

Seven-item questionnaire covering use, benefit, residual limitations, satisfaction, participation, impact of others, and quality of life. The questionnaire has also been used as an outcome measure for people using cochlear implants (IOI-CI). A version has also been developed for alternative interventions (IOI-AI)

Noble W. Extending the IOI to significant others and to non-hearing-aid-based interventions. Int J Audiol 2002;41(1):27–29[140]

Cox R, Hyde M, Gatehouse S, et al. Optimal outcome measures, research priorities, and international cooperation. Ear Hear 2000;21 (4):106S–115S[141]

TELEGRAM (Telephone, Employment, Legislation, Entertainment, Groups, Recreation, Alarms, and Members of the family

A graphical presentation of hearing needs that can be completed before and after any intervention and incorporates broad range of situations.

Thibodeau L. Maximizing communication via hearing assistance technology: plotting beyond the audiogram! Hear J 2004;57(11):46–51[101]


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# 5.2

Assessing Need for Onward Referral

Objective

Hearing care professionals should ensure appropriate onward referrals are made to deliver best hearing outcomes.


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Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 5.2)

  1. Hearing care professionals should ensure they are aware of criteria for candidacy for cochlear implants and seek advice from their local cochlear implant service. See section 2.3. and [Table 19].

  2. Aided speech performance should be regularly tested. This enables monitoring of functional benefit of hearing aids over time and is key to assessing candidacy for cochlear implant referral. See sections 1.1 and 2.3 & [Table 19] ..

  3. Ensure hearing device provision is fully optimized before cochlear implant referral. The client should be made aware of options for additional technology such as remote microphones that may aid speech intelligibility in complex listening environments. The opportunity to trial should be offered where possible and appropriate. See sections 2.0 and 2.2.

  4. Referral to an ear, nose, and throat specialist may be indicated for a patient with conductive hearing loss if not previously investigated, or with any disease of the outer or middle ear that may hinder hearing aid use. See section 1.1.

  5. Onward referral to other agencies should be made at any stage of the rehabilitative journey to ensure wider support for those with severe and profound hearing loss. See section 3.0.

Table 19

Useful Tools for Commonly Used Aided Speech Materials for Assessment of Suitability for Cochlear Implant Assessment

Tool

Scoring

Reference

AB word lists

Words, phoneme

Boothroyd A. Developments in speech audiometry. Br J Audiol 1968;7(3):368–368[27]

AzBio sentence lists (available in multiple languages)

Sentences

Spahr A, Dorman M, Litvak L, et al. Development and validation of the AzBio sentence lists. Ear Hear 2012;33(1):112–117[28]

BKB-A sentence lists

Sentences, key words

Bench J, Kowal A, Bamford J. The BKB (Bamford-Kowal-Bench) sentence lists for partially-hearing children. Br J Audiol 1979;13(3):108–112[29]

BKB-SIN test

Sentences, key words

Niquette P, Arcaroli J, Revit L, et al. Development of the BKB-SIN Test. Paper presented at: American Auditory Society Annual Meeting; 2003; Scottsdale, AZ[30]

CUNY sentence lists

Sentences

Boothroyd A, Hanin L, Hnath T. A sentence test of speech perception: reliability, set equivalence, and short term learning. CUNY Academic works. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1443&context=gc_pubs. 1985. Accessed February 9, 2019[31]

CNC word lists (available in a range of dialects)

Simulated words

Peterson G, Lehiste I. Revised CNC lists for auditory tests. J Speech Hear Dis 1962;27(1):62–70[32]

HINT sentences (available in multiple languages)

Sentences in noise

Nilsson M, Soli S, Sullivan J. Development of the Hearing in Noise Test for the measurement of speech reception thresholds in quiet and in noise. J Acoust Soc Am 1994;95(2):1085–1099[33]

QuickSIN

Sentences. scoring by SNR loss

Etymotic Research. Quick Speech-in-Noise Test (Version 1.3) - User manual. https://www.etymotic.com/downloads/dl/file/id/259/product/159/quicksin_user_manual.pdf. Updated 2006[34]

Words in Noise (WIN) test

Words

Wilson R, Carnell C, Cleghorn A. The Words-in-Noise (WIN) Test with multitalker babble and speech-spectrum noise maskers. J Am Acad Audiol 2007;18(6):522–529[35]


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# 5.3

Ensuring Appropriate Ongoing Management

Objective

The management of severe and profound hearing loss is an ongoing process of continued hearing device optimization and maintenance, promotion of self-management strategies, provision of advice and support, and onward referral where appropriate. Hearing care professionals need to continually develop their skills to optimally manage this complex group.

Recommendations (See Appendix 1: Section 5.3)

  1. Clients with severe and profound hearing loss should have follow-up after an intervention to support them to optimally use their devices and manage listening environments. In general, this should be face to face as phone use may be a challenge without lipreading cues. Visual online follow-up may be appropriate. See section 3.0.

  2. Clients with severe and profound hearing loss should have easy access to ongoing care and maintenance to ensure hearing aids are in good working order with well-fitting earmolds and frequent tubing changes.

  3. Clients with severe and profound hearing loss should be directed to other sources of support and rehabilitative interventions. See section 3.0.

  4. Clients with severe and profound hearing loss should be seen for regular review at least every 3 years, or more frequently if hearing changes, to check hearing and optimize amplification. See sections 1.0 and 2.0.

  5. More frequent review may be indicated for clients close to cochlear implant criteria to ensure referral is not delayed. See section 2.3.

  6. Hearing care professionals should be proactive in discussing cochlear implants with those with progressive hearing loss to raise awareness of this as a possible future treatment option. See section 2.3.

  7. Professionals involved in the care of clients with severe and profound hearing loss should continue to develop their skills and knowledge in the audiological management of this population.

  8. Hearing care professionals specializing in seeing clients with severe and profound hearing loss may benefit from shared learning communities with other services as numbers of clients per clinic may be low. This could incorporate case discussions, problem-based learning, and online forums.


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# 6.

Summary and Conclusions

Adults with severe and profound hearing loss need additional considerations for their assessment, treatment and follow up care when compared to their better hearing peers. To deliver appropriate care for this population they require additional time in a clinical setting so that the recommendations outlined in these guidelines can be delivered appropriately.

The hearing care professionals should care for the client beyond their condition and deliver person-centred care in developing their treatment plans through actively encouraging the client to be part of the joint decision-making process. Through getting to know the client and understanding their individual needs and preferences the clinical outcomes are likely to be more successful.

When presenting all the treatment options outlined in these guidelines it is important that the hearing care professional offers choices far wider than prescribing hearing aids. These guidelines address much more than the technical aspects of hearing device selection, fitting, verification, validation, and counselling within the context of a comprehensive treatment plan. Hearing aid technology alone will often not impact on the client's needs fully and other strategies outlined here should be discussed and considered with the client. When hearing aid technology is supplied, it should be fitted optimally so that the client gets maximum benefit from their technology.

Hearing care professionals should be comfortable in discussing cochlear implants with all clients who are on or around referral criteria. This should be considered as starting the conversation on this treatment option rather than the clients committing to this option by accepting a referral to a cochlear implant center. Ultimately, the client can decline this option as part of their treatment but hearing care professionals have a responsibility to outline all treatment options that a client may be suitable for.

Technology often plays a key role in the rehabilitation for this population and amplification devices and implantable systems, hearing and communication equipment and strategies for electric stimulation, will continue to improve and develop. In addition, specialized tools and methods to capture and measure different rehabilitative outcomes will be developed in the coming years too. All of this will benefit clients with a severe and profound hearing loss.

Throughout these guidelines there are assertions around the lack of evidence for this population. On occasions the authors have had to use non-direct evidence from pediatrics, cochlear implant studies and research for mild and moderate populations, or the evidence in some cases is at a lower level of recommendation than the authors would have liked. The research community needs to address this so that, at each review and revision of these guidelines the evidence is strengthened, and more is revealed. This research may lead to alternative treatment options beyond those outlined in these guidelines and may provide more clinical tools which are specifically designed for clients with severe and profound hearing loss, making them more specific and sensitive to this group.

With potential changes in delivery of care for these clients, new research, new tools and new treatments there is also a need for professional training. This should be considered by education providers of new hearing care professionals, professional bodies and by those who deliver continued professional development opportunities to those already in the profession. This is particularly needed if the hearing care professional only sees low numbers of clients with severe and profound hearing loss, annually.

Finally, once these recommendations are being used by hearing care professionals it is also recommended that the clients are encouraged to feedback on the services being delivered and their responses are considered by the hearing care professional.


# 6.1

Declaration of Interests from the Authors

1. Member and (Role)

Position and institute(s)/affiliations

Clinical field/research area of interest

Memberships and conflicts of interest

Mrs. Laura Turton (Editor)

Adult Audiology Manager, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Clinical lead for adults of an audiology service which also includes a specialist service for management of adults with a severe and profound hearing loss. Special interests include person-centred care, tinnitus and hyperacusis management and management of clients with a severe and profound hearing loss who do not proceed with cochlear implantation.

Memberships - Member of the British Academy of Audiology

Member of the British Society of Audiology (BSA)

Chair of the BSA's Adult Rehabilitation Interest Group

Member of the BSA's Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Special Interest Group

Conflicts - No competing interests

Mrs. Judith Bird (Author)

Head of Audiology and Emmeline Centre for Hearing Implants, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Clinical lead of a tertiary audiology service that includes a long-standing specialist service for adults with severe and profound hearing loss. Special interests include integrating hearing aid and cochlear implant services, improving access to cochlear implants.

Memberships - Member of the British Society of Audiology

Member of the British Society of Audiology's Adult Rehabilitation Interest Group

Member of the British Academy of Audiology

Conflicts - No competing interests

Dr. Katie Ekberg (Co-Author)

Research Fellow, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland AUS.

Research on re/habilitation of children and adults with hearing impairment, client and family-centred care, healthcare communication.

Memberships -No memberships

Conflicts - Received a grant from Sonova to investigate perspectives of adults with hearing impairment, their family members and clinicians about remote microphone technology

Ms. Bernadette Fulton Co-(Author)

Audiology Manager for Severe to Profound,

Phonak Communications AG, Switzerland

The scientific and clinical knowledge base for severe and profound hearing loss in the manufacturing industry. Develop hearing solutions with meaningful benefits for clients with severe and profound hearing loss.

Memberships - Member of Audiology Australia

Member of International Society of Audiology

Member of America Auditory Society.

Conflicts - Employed by Sonova AG

Dr. Lorraine Gailey (Author)

Former Chief Operating Officer, Hearing Link UK.

Rehabilitation services for adults with severe to profound hearing loss and their partners, including residential placement for sudden onset loss.

Memberships - Member of British Academy of Audiology

Conflicts - No competing interests

Prof. René Gifford (Author)

Professor of Hearing & Speech Sciences, Director of Cochlear Implant Program, Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Research and clinical teaching focuses on speech perception and psychophysical properties of acoustic hearing and the combination of electric and acoustic hearing in adults and children with cochlear implants and hearing aids.

Memberships - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) - the Chair of the Research and Scientific Affairs Committee at ASHA (through 2023)

American Auditory Society (AAS) - On the Board of Directors for AAS (through 2024)

Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)—through June 2020

American Academy of Audiology (AAA)

Conflicts - Consultant: Advanced Bionics, Cochlear

Clinical Advisory Board: Frequency Therapeutics

Prof. Louise Hickson (Author)

Associate Dean, Faculty of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Queensland AUS.

Professor of Audiology with broad research interests and expertise on re/habilitation of children and adults with hearing impairment.

Memberships - Member of Audiology Australia

Member of International Society of Audiology

Associate Editor, International Journal of Audiology

Conflicts - Received a grant from Sonova to investigate perspectives of adults with hearing impairment, their family members and clinicians about remote microphone technology

Associate Professor Nerina Scarinci (Co-Author)

Head of Speech Pathology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland AUS.

Research on re/habilitation of children and adults with hearing impairment and their family members, client and family-centred care, best practice service delivery.

Memberships - Member of Speech Pathology Australia

Associate Editor, International Journal of Audiology

Conflicts - Received a grant from Sonova to investigate perspectives of adults with hearing impairment, their family members and clinicians about remote microphone technology

Prof. Pamela Souza (Author)

Communication Sciences and Disorders and Knowles Hearing Center, Northwestern University USA.

Research and clinical teaching in severe and profound hearing loss and variability of outcomes, hearing aid and features and processing.

Memberships - American Academy of Audiology

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Acoustical Society of America

American Auditory Society

Hearing Loss Association of America

Conflicts - Received a grant from Sonova to investigate patient factors which affect benefit with a digital remote microphone

Dr. Maren Stropahl (co-author)

Audiological Service Delivery Specialist, Department of Science and Technology, Sonova AG, Stäfa, Switzerland

Audiology, cognition, brain plasticity, service delivery, tinnitus, auditory training, auditory neuroscience, audiovisual integration

Memberships - No memberships

Conflicts - Employed by Sonova AG

Prof. Linda Thibodeau (Author)

University of Texas at Dallas, Callier Center for Communication Disorders, USA.

Research and clinical teaching in severe and profound hearing loss and remote microphone technology including real-world and lab outcome measurements.

Memberships - Member of the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association

Member of the American Academy of Audiology

Member of the Acoustical Society of America; Co-Chair ANSI S3.47 Hearing Assistive Device Systems Working Group

Member of the Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology

Conflicts - Consultant for Phonak

Dr. Barbra Timmer (co-author)

Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia and Senior Scientist, Sonova AG, Switzerland

Research on re/habilitation of adults with hearing and balance impairment and best-practice audiology service delivery

Memberships - President of Audiology Australia

Member of the American Academy of Audiology

Conflicts - Employed by Sonova AG


# 6.3

Date for Review of Guidelines

These guidelines will be reviewed 5 years from publication in 2020. Revision is planned for 2025.

Appendix 1 - Summary of Evidence Applicable to each Recommendation

There are numerous review papers and opinion pieces in the field. Where possible only those reporting primary quantitative and qualitative findings are included in these guidelines.

Levels of Evidence

  1. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials

  2. Randomized controlled trials

  3. Non-randomized intervention studies

  4. Descriptive studies (cross-sectional surveys, cohort studies, case-control designs)

  5. Case studies

  6. Expert opinion

Grades of Recommendation

  • A. Consistent level 1 or 2 studies

  • B. Consistent level 3 or 4 studies or extrapolations from level 1 or 2 studies

  • C. Level 5 studies or extrapolations from level 3 and 4 studies

  • D. Level 6 evidence or troubling inconsistencies or inconclusive studies at any level

Types of Evidence

Evidence of efficacy (EF) measured under “laboratory or ideal” conditions and evidence of effectiveness (EV) is measured in the “real” world.

Evidence sourced for mild-to-moderate hearing loss (MM), pediatrics (P) or cochlear implants (CI) is noted.

1. Audiological Assessment of Severe and Profound Hearing Loss

1.1. Obtaining Diagnostic Information

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM / P / CI

1

Only a small proportion of people with severe and profound hearing loss receive extended audiological rehabilitation at present, including medical, technical and psychosocial efforts

Carlsson et al (2015)[8]

4

B

EV

CI

2

Communication support is a key reasonable adjustment. Hearing care professionals should take steps to be as accessible as possible, for example, by: offering a range of contact methods, recording and meeting communication needs, providing deaf awareness training for all staff, installing and maintaining loop or infrared systems, providing communication support such as digital text-based apps, speech-to-text reporters and sign language interpreters when appropriate, and subtitling video content.

Action on HL (2015)[142]

6

D

3, 4

Some clients describe difficulty in communicating their problems to their hearing care professional and the use of tools (e.g., Ida tools) to enable this process may facilitate this.

Hearing care professionals could explore a client's self-evaluation during the history taking and counselling sessions by asking relevant questions. Allowing them to reflect on their experiences, evaluating the services received and assigning reasons for their hearing loss.

Manchaiah et al (2011)[143]

4

C

EV

MM

5

Prompt recognition and management of sudden sensorineural hearing loss may improve hearing recovery and patient quality of life. The timing of initial therapy is within 2 weeks of onset.

Chandrasekhar et al (2019)[144]

1

A

6

People with severe and profound hearing loss have a variety of aided loudness growth patterns which need to be managed for greater satisfaction for amplification

Gottermeier & De Filippo (2018)[145]

3

C

EV

7

Speech testing is an indicator in cochlear implant candidacy using word and sentence recognition

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

CI

7

Audio-visual perception of speech has been reported to surpass perception through each of the sensory channels alone. This may be a factor differentiating between good and poor cochlear implant users

Most et al (2009)[146]

3

C

EV

P

7

Speech recognition depends on the ability to resolve frequency detail, a person with severe and profound hearing loss is likely to have impaired communication in both quiet and noisy environments. However, the extent of the impairment varies widely among individuals (as much as an 80% range about the mean score). A better understanding of the fundamental abilities each person has and the consequences of those abilities for communication can support directed treatment options in this population.

Souza and Hoover (2018)[147]

4

B

EV

8

People without dead regions benefited from additional high-frequency speech cues, as high-frequency cochlear dead region can be detrimental for speech recognition

Cox et al (2011)[148]

3

B

EV

Kluk & Moore (2005)[149]

3

B

EV

Moore et al (2000)[150]

3

B

EV

8

The prevalence of dead regions ranges from 21–76% in studies

Aazh & Moore (2007)[151]

3

B

EV

Souza & Hoover (2018)[147]

4

B

EV

9

The prevalence of tinnitus for people with a profound hearing loss is between 67% to 100% in cochlear implant candidates

Olze et al (2011)[152]

3

B

EV

CI

9

People with severe and profound hearing loss do demonstrate moderate/severe tinnitus handicap and are candidates for tinnitus specific therapy

Andersson et al (2009)[153]

4

B

EV

CI

Kompis et al (2012)[154]

3

B

EV

CI

Olze et al (2011)[152]

3

B

EV

CI

9

Annoying tinnitus (and vertigo) had strong negative effects on quality of life for people with severe and profound hearing loss

Carlsson et al (2015)[8]

4

B

EV

CI

Olze et al (2011)[152]

3

B

EV

CI

1.2. Assessment: Non-auditory Needs

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P / CI

1, 6

Assessment and management in audiology services should include the person's hearing and communication needs at home, at work or in education, and in social situations; any psychosocial difficulties related to hearing; the person's expectations and motivations with respect to their hearing loss and the listening and communication strategies available to them

NICE Hearing loss in adults (2018)[74]

1

A

2, 2c, 6

Evidence suggests around 30% of those reporting severe hearing loss have at least four long term conditions

Davies (2014)[155]

6

C

Davis (2011)[156]

4

C

EF

1a, 2a

Hearing loss has been independently associated with accelerated cognitive decline and incident cognitive impairment

Davies (2014)[155]

6

C

Lin et al (2013)[157]

4

B

EF

MM

Livingston et al (2017)[158] [159]

1

A

EF

1b, 2a

There are greater levels of anxiety and depression among people with severe and profound hearing loss than in the general population

The risk of mental distress also was higher in those with more communication problems, lower levels of self-esteem, and poorer acceptance of the hearing loss.

Carlsson et al (2015)[8]

4

B

EV

CI

De Graaf & Bijl (2002)[160]

4

C

EF

Kvam et al (2007)[161]

4

C

EF

1c, 2c

People with hearing loss may also have other additional disabilities or long-term health conditions that limit their daily activities such as arthritis and mobility problems. This often means that barriers to inclusion and feelings of isolation are compounded, so managing hearing loss can be fundamental to effective management of other conditions

Action on HL (2015)[142]

6

D

1f, 2e

Dual sensory impairment (hearing loss and visual impairment) has a significant impact on communication and well-being and can cause social isolation, depression, reduced independence, mortality, and cognitive impairment

Davies (2014)[155]

6

C

Schneider et al (2011)[162]

4

C

EF

CI

2e

There is an increased risk of mortality for clients with dual sensory impairment

Gopinath et al (2013)[9]

4

C

EV

MM

2e

Clients with severe vision impairment in combination with severe and profound hearing loss seem to have a higher risk for effects on quality of life, including: mobility, the ability to provide self-care and perform usual activities, and levels of anxiety and depression, compared with clients with only severe and profound hearing loss

Turunen-Taheri et al (2017)[163]

2

B

EV

3

There are currently several gaps in assessment and service provision, including a lack of validated assessment tools for concurrent impairments, poor interdisciplinary communication and care pathways, and a lack of evidence-based interventions. Consensus centered on the need for flexible, individualised, person-centered solutions, using an interdisciplinary approach

Leroi et al (2019)[164]

3

C

EV

3

The testing process should be tailored to the needs of each individual (through an understanding of the impact of the learning disability on the individual).

NHS Scotland Learning disabilities (2009)[165]

6

C

4

Memory span is significantly related to an individual's ability to correctly use and care for their hearing aids regardless of whether they are new or experienced hearing aid users

Desjardins et al (2018)[166]

3

C

EV

MM

4

There is a greater level of anxiety and depression among clients with severe or profound hearing impairment than in the general population. These symptoms must be analyzed in clinical situations, and treatment that is focused on anxiety and depression must be provided early in the rehabilitation process

Carlsson et al (2015)[8]

4

B

EV

CI

4

Haptic (touch) sensitivity in the fingertips and manual dexterity, as well as disability, pain, and joint stiffness of the hand all contribute to the successful operation of a hearing instrument

Singh et al (2013)[167]

3

C

EV

MM

1.3. Assessment: Understanding the Client’s Self-perception, Motivation, Communication Needs and Treatment Goals

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Establish client specific communication needs and realistic expectations from treatment, including client specific goals

Valente et al (2006)[168]

3

B

1

An open-ended questionnaire may be the best method for assessing what the person with severe and profound hearing loss consider to be their main problems

Bentler & Kramer (2000)[169]

6

D

EV

MM

1

The open-set problem questionnaire approach is valid in the domain of Activity Limitation, it needs to be supplemented by an additional measure of Participation Restriction, either open-set or structured, to ensure optimal client management

Stephens et al (2000)[170]

4

C

EV

MM

1

Some people describe difficulty in communicating their problems to their hearing care professional and the use tools to enable this process may facilitate this

Manchaiah et al (2011)[143]

4

C

EV

MM

2

The hearing care professional will require data to determine the reliability and validity of the self-report tool & determine the significant difference between any pre and post scores or comparing interventions (if applicable)

Bentler & Kramer (2000)[169]

6

D

EV

MM

3

Applications of self-report inventories can perform differently in different populations and most self-report outcomes are a compromise for the hearing care professional in what they measure, but there are no specific tools for people with severe and profound hearing loss

Bentler & Kramer (2000)[169]

6

D

EV

MM

Cox (2005)[26]

6

D

MM

Cox et al (2000)[141]

6

D

EV

MM

4

Third party disability can be experienced by a family member and so they should be included in the assessment and rehabilitation for their family member

Meyer et al (2015)[171]

3

B

EV

MM

Preminger & Meeks (2012)[81]

3

B

EV

MM

Scarinci et al (2012)[3]

3

B

EV

MM

4

Measuring the communication partner's third-party disability as well as the client's is a useful way to measure similarity amongst a couple

Preminger & Meeks (2012)[81]

Scarinci et al (2012)[3]

3

3

B

B

EV

EV

MM

MM

4, 5

Hearing loss affects both the client and their communication partner. Aligned coping strategies can facilitate adjustment to hearing loss

Bentler & Kramer (2000)[169]

6

D

EV

MM

Ekberg et al (2015)[172]

4

B

EF,EV

MM

Meyer et al (2015)[171]

3

B

EV

MM

4, 5

While family members currently have minimal participation in audiology appointments, they display a strong interest in being involved and sharing their experience – best practice will demonstrate family-centered care principles in audiology practice

Ekberg et al (2015)[172]

4

B

EF,EV

MM

1.4. Assessment: Developing a Comprehensive Treatment Plan

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM /P/ CI

1, 2

The process of working with the client should be inclusive and tailored to meet the specific needs of the client rather than the pre-conceived ideas of the hearing care professional.

Manchaiah et al (2011)[143]

4

C

EV

MM

2

An in-depth inquiry on the client's listening satisfaction, to clarify and expand on questionnaire responses, may help in furthering our understanding from people with severe and profound hearing loss.

The differences in client and professional perspectives may be attributed to differences in educational, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These differences in perspectives can have important implications for the effective management of illness

Gottermeier & De Filippo (2018)[145]

3

C

EV

3

When changing a person with severe and profound hearing losses' negative reactions to amplification they state frequent communication and personal contact with the hearing care professional and discussion of what they should expect from newer technology

Gottermeier & De Filippo (2018)[145]

3

C

EV

4

Treatment focused on anxiety, depression, tinnitus (and vertigo) must be given early in the rehabilitation process in clients with severe or profound hearing impairment

Carlsson et al (2015)[8]

4

B

EV

CI

4

Depending on the type and severity of the hearing loss and the specific needs of the client, Hearing-Assistive Technologies & electric-acoustic stimulation may also be appropriate solutions, with very positive quality of life and speech perception outcomes have been documented in treating severe-profound presbycusis with cochlear implants

Sprinzl & Riechelmann (2010)[173]

3

B

4

In addition to hearing aids and /or surgical interventions, people with hearing loss might require sensory services such as lipreading classes, support groups and access to assistive technologies to help maximise independence and wellbeing.

Action on HL (2015)[174]

6

D

5

It appears that there are many potential cochlear implant candidates who are not being identified for a variety of reasons including:

• lack of initial consult for hearing loss

• lack of appropriate referral from other health-care providers

• lack of education about cochlear implants among audiologists

• exclusion based on labeled criteria

• or some combination

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

P, CI

Raine et al (2016)[175]

6

D

CI

5

Despite fulfilling the criteria, only 8.5% of the clients in this study population had been rehabilitated with cochlear implants

Turunen-Taheri et al (2019)[176]

4

B

EV

CI

6

The development of care tailored to the best needs of the client is reflected by the adoption of the Individual Management Plan (IMP) as a prominent feature of a pathway

An Individual Management Plan (IMP)is: -

• developed for each client, initially based on information gathered at the assessment phase

• determined in conjunction with the client and/or their communication partner(s)

• updated on an ongoing basis

• accessible to the clinical team.

NHS Scotland Rehabilitation (2008)[88]

4

B

NICE Hearing loss in adults (2018)[74]

1

A

NHS England (2019)[177]

4

B

2. Selecting Technology

2.1. Hearing Aids

2.1.1. Compression

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Most clients with severe and profound loss reported better loudness comfort and overall satisfaction with WDRC compared with linear amplification with compression limiting.

Barker et al (2001)[178]

3

B

EV

Kuk et al (2003)[179]

3

B

EV

1

WDRC results in better speech intelligibility across a range of speech input levels, and particularly for soft speech, compared with linear amplification.

Souza & Bishop (1999)[180]

3

B

EF

Ringdahl et al (2000)[181]

3

B

EV

Villchur (1987)[182]

3

B

EF

1

If the client was previously fit with linear amplification, a period of acclimatization may be necessary before realizing the maximum benefits of WDRC.

Keidser et al (2007)[183]

3

B

EV

2

People with severe loss prefer lower compression ratios over higher compression ratios. In at least one study, this was attributed to better preservation of low-frequency prosodic cues when lower compression ratios were used.

Barker et al (2001)[178]

3

B

EV

Keidser et al (2007)[183]

3

B

EV

2

Increasing speech audibility via use of high compression ratios did not improve speech intelligibility in people with severe and profound loss. This was attributed to the negative effect of distorting speech amplitude variations, or to the lesser contribution of information in speech “valleys” to speech intelligibility.

DeGennaro et al (1986)[184]

5

C

EF

Drullman & Smoorenburg (1997)[185]

3

C

EF

3

For most people with severe loss fit with slow WDRC and low compression ratios, using more than 9 compression channels is not expected to improve target match or predicted speech audibility. More than 9 channels may be necessary to achieve best fit to target and audibility for cookie bite audiograms.

Woods et al (2006)[186]

4

C

EF

3

A large number of compression channels may smooth vowel spectra and affect vowel identification. This is more likely to occur when a large number of channels is combined with high compression ratios.

Souza et al (2012)[187]

3

C

EF

Shen et al (2018)[188]

4

C

EF

4

A majority of people with severe and profound loss performed worse with fast-acting WDRC than linear amplification

Boothroyd (1990)[189]

3

B

EF

Souza et al (2005)[190]

3

B

EF

4

People with severe loss made more consonant manner confusions when using fast-acting WDRC than with slow-acting WDRC

Boothroyd et al (1988)[191]

3

B

EF

4

The negative effect of fast-acting WDRC was greatest for people with more hearing loss and/or with poor spectral resolution. This was attributed to greater dependence on amplitude envelope cues, which were distorted by fast-acting WDRC.

Davies-Venn & Souza (2014)[192]

3

B

EF

Davies-Venn et al (2009)[193]

3

B

EF

4

People with severe loss performed better with compression designed to preserve amplitude envelope cues than with fast-acting WDRC

Weile et al (2011)[194]

3

C

EF

5

Listeners who were long-time users of linear amplification reacted negatively to WDRC. Complaints included insufficient loudness and more noticeable background noise. Helpful strategies included adjusting acclimatizing to frequency-gain response prior to acclimatizing to compression and having the opportunity to compare different amounts of compression stored as different hearing aid memories.

Convery et al (2008)[195]

3

B

EV

2.1.2. Hearing Aids: Device Choices and Programmes

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Greater benefit was obtained with two than with one hearing aid, and those performance improvements were greatest for listeners with severe and profound hearing loss. Specifically, two hearing aids resulted in better sentence and word recognition, improved

gross localization, and higher subjective ratings of spatialization.

Ricketts et al (2019)[196]

3

C

EF

1

Over a 10-year period, the decline in speech recognition scores in the unaided ear was ∼10% for a group of listeners with severe and profound loss who were fit unilaterally. The decline in performance in the unaided ear was significantly greater than the decline in speech recognition scores in the aided ear.

Lee et al (2020)[197]

4

C

EV

2

Clients with severe and profound loss reported greater acceptance of noise level with fixed directionality compared with omnidirectional processing

Aghsoleimani et al (2018)[198]

3

B

EF

2

Clients with severe and profound loss demonstrated improved signal-to-noise recognition with directional processing, especially at unfavorable input SNRs and when visual cues were provided

Ricketts & Hornsby (2006)[199]

3

B

EF

2

Clients with severe and profound loss had average improved SNRs of 13 dB and reported improved listening comfort and higher satisfaction with fixed directional processing, compared with omnidirectional processing

Kuhnel et al (2001)[200]

3

B

EV

2

Clients with severe and profound loss had improved speech recognition in noise with multiband adaptive directionality, compared with omnidirectional processing

Weile et al (2011)[194]

3

C

EF

3

For listeners with a range of audiograms up to moderately severe high-frequency hearing loss, binaural beamforming directional processing resulted in better sentence recognition in noisy and reverberant environments compared with adaptive directionality.

Picou et al (2014)[201]

3

B

EF

Picou & Ricketts (2019)[202]

3

C

EF

4

The hearing care professional should consider client abilities in setting manual or automatic activation of the remote microphone system.

Wolfe (2018)[203]

3

B

EV

5

Passive feedback systems which reduce maximum available gain may restrict speech audibility, compared with active feedback systems

Chung (2004)[204]

6

D

EF

6

Custom earmolds with appropriate venting can maintain hearing aid gain, minimize feedback, and relieve pressure.

Killion (2003)[205]

6

D

EF

7

Clients with severe loss had better speech recognition for telephone signals transmitted wirelessly to both ears, compared with telephone signals transmitted wirelessly or via telecoil to one ear

Picou & Ricketts (2013)[206]

3

C

EF

2.1.3. Hearing Aids: Frequency Lowering

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Clients with severe and profound loss had similar consonant recognition, better spondee-in-noise scores and better vowel scores without frequency compression compared with with frequency compression.

Perreau et al (2013)[207]

3

C

EV

CI

1

Five of 11 clients with severe and profound loss preferred (broad band) frequency compression to no frequency compression. Note however that the frequency compression paradigm was quite different from those in current use.

Sakamoto et al (2000)[208]

3

D

EV

_

2

Among 10 clients with severe and profound loss who compared their own hearing aids without frequency lowering to frequency compression and to frequency transposition, there were smaller improvements in recognition and more clients experienced degraded recognition when using frequency transposition.

Hotton & Bergeron (2017)[209]

3

C

EV

_

2

An acoustic analysis conducted with example hearing aids fit to match NAL targets for a single severe loss audiogram indicated that frequency compression preserved vowel and consonant spectra better than frequency transposition. However, the same acoustic analysis suggested that frequency transposition–with its greater capability to move speech components to a low-frequency range–might be more suitable than frequency compression for clients with no usable hearing above 1–2 kHz.

McDermott (2011)[210]

4

C

EF

_

3

To ensure audibility of high-frequency phonemes avoid unnecessary distortion, experts recommend that frequency lowering be fit using real-ear verification and validated with appropriate test materials.

Glista & Scollie (2018)[211]

6

D

EF

2.1.4. Hearing Aids: Prescriptions and Verification

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/P/ CI

1

Clients with mild and moderate hearing loss who were fit with a validated prescriptive procedure (NAL-NL1) reported greater hearing aid benefit compared with clients fit with “first fit” settings.

Abrams et al (2012)[212]

3

B

EV

MM

2

Hearing aids fit to NAL-NL targets and DSL[i/o] targets are likely to result in similar weighted audibility (SII values) for conversational and higher input levels.

Ching et al (2015)[213]

3

B

EF

MM

2

Clients with a range of hearing loss severity whose hearing aid fit was verified using real ear measures reported higher perceived benefit and greater handicap reduction compared with clients fit without real ear verification

Kochkin et al (2010)[214]

4

C

EV

3

Clients fit with NAL-NL prescribed gain following amplification with non-prescribed gain (e.g., more low- and less high-frequency amplification than prescribed) were able to adjust to prescribed gain without significant changes in loudness comfort or sound quality.

Convery & Keidser (2011)[18]

3

B

EV

Convery et al (2008)[195]

3

B

EV

4

Frequency-gain and compression response should be verified using broad-band signals. Use of pure-tone signals to verify compression response may result in gain adjustments that are different from those that would occur with speech inputs.

Stelmachowicz (1990)[215]

6

D

EF

5

Clients with conductive loss prefer significantly more gain than those with similar levels of sensorineural hearing loss.

Berger (1980)[216]

4

C

EV

Johnson (2013)[217]

6

D

EV

6

In clinical fits, most clients with identified dead regions showed either a small advantage or no effect of amplification in the frequency region of the dead region

Mackersie et al (2004)[218]

3

B

EF

Cox et al (2012)[219]

3

B

EF, EV

6

In rare cases of clients with extensive dead regions, provision of gain in the frequency region of the dead region resulted in degraded speech recognition

Vickers et al (2001)[220]

3

B

EF

2.1.5. Hearing Aids: Selecting Technology for Asymmetrical Severe and Profound Loss

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/P/ CI

1

73% of 82 clients with asymmetrical severe and profound loss who completed a trial with BiCROS devices chose to keep the BiCROS. However, the study lacked a control (monaural) condition and no hearing aid history was reported.

Hill et al (2006)[221]

3

D

EV

_

1

14 clients with asymmetrical loss (moderate-to-severe in one ear and profound loss in the other ear) demonstrated significantly better speech in noise with BiCROS aids than with monaural amplification in the better ear. Specifically, SRTs improved by 3–4 dB and sentence recognition improved by ∼10% when using the BiCROS.

Del Dot et al (1992)[222]

3

D

EF

_

1

There was no statistically significant improvement in speech in noise when using a BiCROS system, compared with monaural amplification in the better ear.

Williams et al (2012)[223]

3

C

EV

1

For 21 listeners with asymmetrical loss (mild to moderately severe in one ear and severe and profound loss in the other ear), there was no statistically significant improvement in speech in noise (HINT) threshold, regardless of level of digital noise reduction (none, mild, strong) when using a BiCROS system compared with no amplification. For the same listeners, subjective outcomes (APHAB) were improved when using the BiCROS system (compared with no amplification) over a 4-week trial. During the trial, listeners were able to switch between different levels of digital noise reduction. The authors note that most did not switch and used the level of noise reduction (none, mild, strong) that had been randomly assigned to program 1.

Oeding & Valente (2013)[224]

3

D

EF

MM

1

Six listeners with asymmetrical loss (mild to moderately severe in one ear and severe and profound in the other ear) demonstrated better speech in noise with BiCROS aids than with monaural amplification in the better ear. Specifically, consonant recognition improved by ∼10% when using the BiCROS.

Kuk et al (2014)[225]

3

D

EF

1

Nine participants with asymmetrical loss (severe and profound in one ear and mild or moderate loss in the other ear) who were fit with a BiCROS aid reported improved speech quality compared with use of a monaural hearing aid in the better ear.

Kuk et al (2015)[226]

3

B

EV

2

Listeners reported better speech recognition in noise, better sound quality, and greater ability to localize sound when using a BiCROS transmitter with a higher processing and adjustment capability (e.g., a higher number of compression channels) compared with older BiCROS devices with more limited adjustment capability. However, the study was not blinded and participants were aware that they were comparing their current BiCROS to a newer BiCROS option.

Williams et al (2012)[223]

3

C

EV

2

BiCROS gain and frequency response should be adjusted to maintain the head-related transfer function and compensate for head shadow. In other words, adding a transmitter on the poorer ear should be acoustically transparent such that the desired frequency-gain response for the hearing aid fit to the better ear is maintained.

Hayes et al (2005)[227]

6

D

EF

2

The strength of the signal from the BiCROS transmitter—and thus the level of the received signal—depends on head size and on the physical position of each device on the ear.

Hayes et al (2005)[227]

6

D

EF

2

Nine participants with asymmetrical loss (severe and profound in one ear and mild or moderate loss in the other ear) who were fit with a BiCROS aid reported better speech recognition in noise when given the ability to turn off the transmitter microphone in cases of greater noise to the transmitter side.

Kuk et al (2015)[226]

3

B

EV

2

In diffuse noise, best speech in noise performance was obtained when both transmitter and receiver devices were configured with adaptive directionality. Specifically, sentence SRTs improved by 3 dB compared with both devices configured to be omnidirectional and by 5 dB compared with adaptive directionality on only the better ear. On average, configuring only a single device (either transmitter or receiver) with adaptive directionality minimally improved sentence SRT (≤1 dB).

Kuk et al (2014)[225]

3

D

EF

2

Nineteen participants with asymmetrical loss (severe and profound in one ear and mild to moderate loss in the other ear) who were fit with a BiCROS aid demonstrated better speech recognition when both receiver and transmitter were configured with adaptive directionality, compared with adaptive directionality on only the better ear. Specifically, SRTs for HINT sentences improved by 2.6 dB with receiver adaptive directionality.

Valente & Oeding (2015)[228]

3

B

EF

_

3

The primary benefit expected for patients fitted with CROS/BiCROS technology is increased awareness of sound arising from their unaided side (i.e., reduction of the head shadow effect). Some clients may find it hard to understand how aiding their better ear could possibly address their listening difficulties. In this regard, probe-microphone systems can serve as a valuable educational tool by allowing the clinician to demonstrate the advantage to be expected from a CROS/BiCROS system for a patient with an unaidable ear.

Pumford (2005)[229]

6

D

MM

2.1.6. Hearing Aids: Maximum Power Output and Threshold Shift

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Calculated exposure levels indicate that clients with hearing loss exceeding 70 dB HL may be at risk of threshold elevation from high levels of amplified sound. The relative risk may be influenced by environmental sound levels, ear canal volume, manual volume control setting, and prescriptive procedure. The highest risk is likely to occur for clients fit with higher-gain prescriptions, small ear canal volume, and who are more frequently exposed to high levels of environmental sound.

Ching et al (2013)[230]

4

D

EF

Humes & Bess (1981)[231]

6

D

EV

Johnson (2017)[232]

6

D

EF

2

Verification of real-ear aided response for a 90 dB input using a pure tone can more accurately represent output levels for any narrow-band signals that the user experiences.

Stelmachowicz (1990)[215]

6

D

EF

3

Clients with moderate to profound loss preferred compression limiting over peak clipping, when using aids in their everyday environments

Savage et al (2006)[233]

3

B

EV

_

4

Loudness discomfort is more likely to be associated with high-frequency output limits than with low-frequency output limits.

Preminger et al (2001)[234]

3

C

EF

4

It is expected that single channel output limiting where one control manages the entire range of frequencies will result in limits to signal amplification across frequency. Multichannel output limiting will allow the fitter to customize MPO parameters to LDLs which vary across frequency.

Taylor (2008)[235]

6

D

EF

5

In children who adjusted their own volume control, ∼15 dB of permanent threshold shift was attributed to adjustment of volume control above reserve gain. No such data exist for adult hearing aid wearers.

Macrae (1991)[236]

5

C

EV

Macrae (1995)[237]

5

C

EV

2.0. Selecting Technology Continued

2.2. Prescribing and Fitting Remote Microphones

2.2.1. Remote microphones Recommending and Managing Ongoing Use

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1–8

23 adults with hearing impairment, 7 key significant others of those adults and 13 hearing care professionals were interviewed about their experiences with remote microphone systems. Five themes were identified: 1) With experience and clear expectations, clients, significant others and hearing care professionals believe in remote microphone systems and how they can make a difference, 2) the trial and decision-make process, 3) what happens when clients use remote microphone systems, 4) issues with the systems and technology, and 5) clients, significant others and hearing care professionals require ongoing support to use remote microphone systems.

Scarinci et al (in preparation)[99]

4

B

EV

_

1, 5

12 adults wearing hearing aids (some with severe and profound hearing loss) demonstrated benefits of remote microphone systems in the laboratory. Participants identified challenges with using the systems in the real world and authors advocated for the need for detailed instructions to achieve optimal outcomes.

Boothroyd (2004)[238]

3

B

EF/EV

_

1, 3

Real world evaluation of the use of remote microphone systems in 36 adult participants with severe and profound hearing loss. Positive improvements were evident for hearing conversation in noise, on the telephone and hearing a speaker at a distance. Participants used remote microphone systems for a 6 week trial period that included counselling and coaching, and all decided to continue use at the end of the trail.

Chisolm et al (2007)[239]

4

B

EV

_

1

12 adults with severe and profound hearing loss and wearing cochlear implants had improved speech perception in noise in a laboratory setting.

De Ceulaer et al (2016)[240]

4

B

EF

CI

1

15 adult cochlear implant users demonstrated improved listening to television in a laboratory setting.

Fitzpatrick et al (2009)[241]

4

B

EF

CI

1, 5

Evaluated real world experiences of remote microphone systems in 14 adult cochlear implant users. Most common uses were (in order of priority): television, meeting, car, church. Several technical, individual, social and environmental factors influenced use of the systems. Authors cited the need for additional counselling and instructions to achieve success.

Fitzpatrick et al (2010)[242]

4

B

EV

CI

1

Study aimed to develop a real-world questionnaire to evaluate benefits and difficulties associated with remote microphone systems. Trialled on 12 adult cochlear implant users.

Fournier et al (2012)[243]

5

B

EV

CI

1

Laboratory study comparing speech perception in noise with hearing aids including directional microphones and hearing aids coupled with remote microphone systems. 46 participants with mild sloping to severe hearing loss were included.

Remote microphone systems were superior to hearing aids.

Lewis et al (2004)[244]

3

B

EF

MM

1, 3

14 adult cochlear implant users had speech perception in noise tests pre and post a trial period with remote microphone systems. Benefits of remote microphone systems were evident in the laboratory tests; however, benefits were less consistently evident in self-report of real world performance.

Schafer et al (2013)[245]

4

B

EF/EV

CI

2.2.2. Prescribing and Fitting Remote Microphones: Component Considerations

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/P/ CI

1

The system should provide benefit in challenging communications situations beyond that obtained with the local microphone system (hearing aid and/or cochlear implant) according to the individual's communication demands.

Thibodeau (2004, 2010)[101] [246]

4

B

EV

MM

1

Should the user have frequent challenges in group settings, the ability to select directional pickup patters of the RMT is optimal. This can provide up to 16% improvement in speech recognition in noise over RMT with fixed omnidirectional patterns.

Thibodeau (2019)[21]

3

B

EF

MM, CI

2

If compatible with the personal device, the RMT should have capability of hard-wired audio input connections to devices without Bluetooth and wireless connections to those devices such as smartphones with Bluetooth.

Thibodeau (2007)[247]

4

C

EV

3

The system should be comprised of the minimal number of components to facilitate troubleshooting and minimize repairs in bilateral/bimodal arrangements taking into account financial constraints for the individual.

Thibodeau (2019)[248]

4

B

EV

AAA (2011)[102]

6

D

EV

3

Benefits with direct connection remote microphone systems can be achieved by cochlear implant users but are not as great as more expensive multi-component systems.

Wolfe et al (2015)[249]

3

B

EV

CI

3

Adaptive digital remote microphone technology provided ∼20% greater benefit than fixed-gain technology at higher noise levels.

Wolfe (2018)[203]

3

B

EV

4

The charging options and battery life should meet the communication needs and lifestyle of the user.

Thibodeau (2019)[248]

4

B

EV

5

The system should efficiently interface with other assistive technology that may be provided based on ADA requirements in employment and/or higher education settings.

Thibodeau (2019)[248]

4

B

EV

AAA (2011)[102]

6

D

EV

2.2.3. Remote Microphones: Verification

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

If a hearing aid is part of the RMT, it should first be evaluated to ensure adequate function.

ANSI S3.22[105]

6

D

EF

2

If the remote microphone is interfaced with personal ear level technology, the output across the spectrum at the listener's ear when using the remote microphone is equivalent to the output when using the personal technology.

AAA (2011)[102]

6

D

EF

2

Evaluation of electroacoustic output across remote microphone systems from four manufacturers with a single hearing aid revealed differences in frequency response.

Salehi et al (2018)[108]

6

D

EF

3

The RMT should produce minimal circuit noise.

ANSI S3.47[103]

6

D

EF

4

The RMT should produce minimal distortion.

ANSI S3.47[103]

6

D

EF

5

The RMT should match the frequency response of the personal hearing aid.

AAA (2011)[102]

6

D

EF

5

There should be transparency between the output curves obtained with 65 dB SPL input for the hearing aid and the hearing aid plus the RMT.

AAA (2011)[102]

6

D

EF

5

In general, the steps involve first placing the hearing aid in the test box to measure the output of the hearing aid alone, followed by placing the RM in the test box to measure the output of the combined hearing aid and RMT when each are tested with a 65 dB SPL complex signal input. The two output curves should be closely aligned which will then result in the optimal SNR when RM receives the typical input of 80 dB SPL from the talker.

AAA (2011)[102]

6

D

EF

5

If the two output curves are not similar, adjustments may necessary in the hearing aid or receiver to compensate for the offset.

Bondurant & Thibodeau (2011)[250]

3

B

EF

6

Behavioral performance with the RMT should be significantly better than without it.

The individual with the hearing aid combined with the RMT receiver is seated in the sound booth at 0 degrees azimuth, while the examiner with the RM is seated at the audiometer outside the booth. In general, the steps for the behavioral verification include obtaining the first score with the hearing aid/implant alone via live-voice presentation of the age-appropriate speech materials at 50 dB HL combined with 50 dB HL of competing noise, i.e., a 0 dB S/N. If this first score is not below 80%, the noise may be increased to create a more challenging SNR. The next condition is similar to the first measure except now the examiner has turned on the RM. The benefit is determined by comparing the score with the hearing aid/implant alone to the score obtained when the RMT was added.

AAA (2011)[102]

6

D

EF

6

The average benefit for ten adults with hearing aids when tested using this protocol with FM technology was 34%.

Thibodeau (2007)[247]

4

C

EV

6

The average benefit for ten adults with hearings aids/cochlear implants when tested with digital modulation technology was 61%.

Thibodeau (2019)[21]

3

B

EF

MM. CI

6

Use of remote microphone technology resulted in significant improvements in speech recognition in noise as great as 50% at higher noise levels.

Wolfe et al (2015, 2015, 2009)[251] [252] [253]

3

B

EV

CI

6

Behavioral performance in real-world settings should be better with the RMT as reported by the user and/or communication partners on a self-assessment scale such as the TELEGRAM.

Thibodeau (2004)[101]

4

B

EV

MM

Thibodeau (2007)[247]

4

C

EV

2.0. Selecting Technology Continued

2.3 Cochlear Implants

2.3.1 Referral for a Cochlear Implant

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Of adults presenting for Cochlear Implant assessment, only 30% of candidates were found to have sufficient hearing aid gain to achieve the NAL_NL2 target audibility for 60 dB SPL speech.

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

CI

1

177 of 287 patients presented for CI assessment with no hearing aid, reporting lack of perceived benefit. (Holder, Reynolds, Sunderhaus & Gifford, 2018 p 4)

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

CI

1

A period of amplification may be mandatory prior to implantation. See

BAA (2020) Cochlear Implants.

BCIG (2020)

NICE Cochlear implants (2019)

CMS (2005)

BAA (2020)[109]

CI

CMS (2005)[254]

NICE (2019)[255]

CI

BCIG (2020)[256]

CI

1

Wireless microphone technology can be considered as a standard component of a rehabilitation program

Thibodeau (2019)[20]

3

B

EF

MM, CI

2

CI candidacy criteria change over time: see CMS (2005) AND NICE Cochlear implants (2019)

CMS (2005)[254]

CI

NICE (2019)[255]

Raine et al (2016)[175]

6

D

CI

BCIG (2017, 2020)[256] [257]

CI

3

Average preoperative word recognition score with appropriately fitted power hearing aids was just 8.7% correct

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

CI

3

Providers Referring for CI waited until this group was missing over 90% of the auditory speech signal, on average.

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

CI

3

Cochlear implantation is considered the standard of care treatment for adults with severe and profound sensorineural hearing loss

Wilson (2018)[258]

4

c

EF

CI

3

Cochlear implantation is not only appropriate when a patient receives insufficient benefit from their hearing aids when listening in quiet, but can also be appropriate when hearing aids provide insufficient benefit only when listening in background noise. Cochlear implantation can also be appropriate in patient groups where speech understanding is not possible or appropriate to measure.

BCIG (2017)[257]

CI

4

Start the conversation by introducing CI as a part of a continuum of care starting with hearing aid use and ultimately progressing to CI candidacy.

Helms et al (1997)[259]

3

C

EF EV

CI

Koch et al (2004)[260]

3

C

EF EV

CI

Balkany et al (2007)[261]

2

B

EF EV

CI

Blamey et al (1996)[262]

1

A

EF

CI

Rubinstein et al (1999)[263]

3

B

EF

CI

Friedland et al (2003)[264]

4

C

EF

CI

4

Hearing Health Professionals should become confident in discussing the benefits and outcomes of Cochlear Implantation so they can adequately address client questions and concerns. This may require attending regular training and continued professional development sessions. For evidence see BAA (2020) Cochlear Implants.

BAA (2020)[109]

CI

5

A recent study of 287 adults' patients at a large academic medical center revealed that over 95% of adults referred for preoperative CI evaluation met labeled candidacy criteria

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

CI

Evidence shows large, life-changing benefits post-implantation the magnitude of which cannot begin to be achieved through the use of hearing aid technology alone. Examples are average sentence recognition scores in quiet jumped from 10% pre-implantation to 77% post-implantation in 110 adult patients implanted in 2017–18. For evidence see BAA (2020) Cochlear Implants.

BAA (2020)[109]

CI

5

Adults with bilateral severe and profound sensorineural hearing loss derive significant communication benefit from cochlear implantation

Helms et al (1997)[259]

3

C

EF EV

CI

Koch et al (2004)[260]

3

C

EF EV

CI

Balkany et al (2007)[261]

2

B

EF EV

CI

5

Only 5 to 7% of adults in the U.S. with qualifying hearing loss actually receive a CI

Sorkin & Buchman (2016)[265]

6

C

CI

Sorkin (2013)[266]

4

C

EV

CI

5

<7% of estimated eligible adults receive a CI

BAA (2020)[109]

CI

5

The range of patient groups in which cochlear implantation is appropriate is considerably broader than the range of groups who are currently eligible according to NICE guidance.

BCIG (2017)[257]

CI

6

For evidence see BAA (2020) Cochlear Implants.

BAA (2020)[109]

CI

6

Speech tests are too unreliable to use to establish a specific criterion or cut-off for candidacy, but their results should be considered by the multi-disciplinary team

BCIG (2017)[257]

CI

6

Assessment for CI candidacy will be by a multidisciplinary team.

BCIG (2020)[256]

CI

7

For evidence see BAA and NICE Cochlear implants (2019)

BAA (2020)[109]

NICE (2019)[255]

CI

8

For evidence see BAA (2020) Cochlear Implants.

BAA (2020)[109]

CI

8

On completion of the assessment pathway a comprehensive report should be provided to the referrer, the patient's GP and the patient as indicated.

BCIG (2020)[256]

CI

9

Audit to ensure that all staff are delivering treatment that is safe, accurate and effective

BCIG (2020)[256]

CI

9

For evidence see BAA (2020) Cochlear Implants.

BAA (2020)[109]

CI

10

For evidence see BAA (2020) Cochlear Implants.

BAA (2020)[109]

CI

2.3.2 Cochlear Implant: Bimodal Fitting

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Approximately 80% of current adult CI recipients utilize a bimodal hearing configuration which combines use of a unilateral CI sound processor with a contralateral hearing aid (HA) (USA)

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

CI

1

In the UK, since the publication of the NICE guidance in 2009, there has been a significant increase in reported contralateral

HA use among adult unilateral CI users. The use of bimodal hearing was estimated at 48% in 2016.

Fielden (2016)[267]

3

C

EV

CI

1

Clinicians seek to preserve aidable residual hearing where possible, presumably to enable patients to benefit from contralateral HA use following implantation.

Fielden (2016)[268]

3

C

EV

CI

1

72 to 85% of adults reporting for preoperative CI evaluation have aid-able acoustic hearing, even if only in the low-frequency range

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

CI

2

Aided acoustic hearing may not afford high levels of speech understanding alone, when combined with a CI, bimodal listeners demonstrate significantly higher speech understanding and sound quality than provided by the CI or HA alone

Gifford et al (2014)[269]

3

B

EV

CI

Gifford & Dorman (2019)[270]

3

B

EV

CI

Neuman et al (2017)[271]

4

C

EV

CI

Neuman et al (2019)[272]

3

B

EF

CI

2

Benefit from bimodal aiding (the combined use of a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other ear) is likely to increase in the near future.

BCIG (2017)[257]

CI

2

The use of a HA combined with the CI provides significantly better musical sound quality and music perception abilities, such as chord, melody, and melodic contour recognition, as compared with CI-alone listening

Kong et al (2004)[273]

4

B

EF

CI

Kong et al (2012)[274]

4

B

EF

CI

Dorman et al (2008)[275]

3

B

EF

CI

El Fata et al (2009)[276]

3

B

EF

CI

Prentiss et al (2015)[277]

3

B

EF

CI

Crew et al (2015)[278]

4

B

EF

CI

2.3.3 Other Implantable Devices

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Based on known anatomical and physiological function of the auditory system, middle ear implants require a functional and intact middle ear system and both middle ear implants and bone conduction hearing implants require sufficiently functioning inner hair cells for effective cochlear stimulation as 95% of afferent auditory nerve fibers are innervated by our inner hair cells.

FDA (2003)[279]

1

Middle ear implants are currently approved for use with adults in the U.S. who have sensorineural hearing losses ranging from a mild to severe and profound

FDA (2003)[279]

1

Middle ear implants offer an effective method of rehabilitating moderate-to-severe SNHL.

Kahue (2014)[280]

4

B

EV

1

Bone conducting hearing implants are approved for use with adults with bilateral mixed hearing losses for which the pure tone average, obtained via bone conduction, is ≤ 65 dB HL.

Ghossaini et al (2019)[281]

6

D

MM

Reinfeldt et al (2015)[282]

6

D

MM

1

Individuals with audiometric thresholds > 60 dB HL have significantly greater incidence of cochlear dead regions—or areas of complete inner hair cell dysfunction

Vinay & Moore (2007)[283]

3

B

EF

Hornsby & Dundas (2009)[284]

4

B

EF

Pepler et al (2014)[285]

4

B

EF

Chang et al (2019)[286]

4

B

EF

2

Auditory brain stem implants are used to treat total deafness in both ears caused by damage to the vestibulocochlear nerve as a result of tumors or surgery, when hearing is not improved by hearing aids or cochlear implants.

NICE (2005)[287]

Wong et al (2019)[288]

6

D

3.0. Rehabilitation: Psychosocial and Communication

3.1. Help in Adjusting to Life

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Communication support is a key reasonable adjustment. Hearing care professionals should take steps to be as accessible as possible, for example, by: offering a range of contact methods, recording and meeting communication needs, providing deaf awareness training for all staff, installing and maintaining loop or infrared systems, providing communication support such as digital text-based apps, speech-to-text reporters and sign language interpreters when appropriate, and captioning video content.

Action on HL (2015)[174]

6

D

2

Clients can be confused when their clinical management is inappropriately driven by algorithmic protocols and ignores their individual circumstances

Greenhalgh et al (2014)[289]

6

D

2

Some people describe difficulty in communicating their problems to their Hearing Care Professional and the use of tools to facilitate this process may help

Manchaiah & Stephens (2011)[290]

4

C

EV

MM

2

Instructional materials for all literacy levels are an important part of improving self-management skills

Arnold et al (2019)[291]

4

C

3

It is important to evaluate clients' communication and relationship challenges across all aspects of their life

Bess (2000)[292]

4

C

3

Individual differences in how older people adjust to hearing loss are large

Manchaiah & Stephens (2011)[290]

4

C

EV

MM

3

Management in audiology services should include the person's hearing and communication needs at home, at work or in education, and in social situations; any psychosocial difficulties related to hearing; the person's expectations and motivations with respect to their hearing loss and the listening and communication strategies available to them

Valente et al (2006)[168]

3

B

3

Establish client specific communication needs and realistic expectations from treatment, including client specific goals

Valente et al (2006)[168]

3

B

4

The audiologist can improve the client's activity, participation and quality of life by ensuring both external (lifestyle, social attitudes) and internal (age, education, coping style, personal expectations) are addressed

Boothroyd (2007)[293]

6

D

4

Assessment and management in audiology services should include the person's hearing and communication needs at home, at work or in education, and in social situations; any psychosocial difficulties related to hearing; the person's expectations and motivations with respect to their hearing loss and the listening and communication strategies available to them

Valente et al (2006)[168]

3

B

5

Third party disability can be experienced by a family member and so they should be included in the assessment and rehabilitation for their family member

Meyer et al (2015)[171]

3

B

EV

MM

Preminger & Meeks (2012)[81]

3

B

EV

MM

Scarinci et al (2012)[3]

3

B

EV

MM

5

Hearing loss affects both the client and their communication partner. Aligned coping strategies can facilitate adjustment to hearing loss

Bentler & Kramer (2000)[169]

6

D

EV

MM

Ekberg et al (2015)[172]

4

B

EF,EV

MM

Meyer et al (2015)[171]

3

B

EV

MM

5

While family members currently have minimal participation in audiology appointments, they display a strong interest in being involved and sharing their experience – best practice will demonstrate family-centered care principles in audiology practice

Ekberg et al (2015)[172]

4

B

EF,EV

MM

6

Motivation and behavior after fitting of hearing aids needs more attention than motivation to use them in the first place

Sawyer et al (2019)[294]

3

B

EV

6

Information and counselling are important to ensure effective self-management

Borg & Borg (2015)[295]

4

B

EV

6

Instruction, cognitive training and motivational engagement grounded in behavior change theory are important in optimising outcomes

Ferguson et al (2019)[296]

1

A

6

Motivational engagement can be beneficial in early client management

Ferguson et al (2016)[297]

3

B

EV

6

Motivational engagement enhances client participation in shared decision-making and improves their understanding of the issues

Ferguson et al. (2016)[297]

3

B

EV

7

An in-depth inquiry on the client's listening satisfaction, to clarify and expand on questionnaire responses, may help in furthering our understanding from people with severe and profound hearing loss.

The differences in client and professional perspectives may be attributed to differences in educational, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These differences in perspectives can have important implications for the effective management of illness

Gottermeier & De Filippo (2018)[145]

3

C

EV

7

When changing the negative reactions of a person with severe and profound hearing loss to amplification, frequent communication and personal contact with the Hearing Care Professional and discussion of what they should expect from newer technology is important

Gottermeier & De Filippo (2018)[145]

3

C

EV

8

Effective management of sudden hearing losses requires a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary perspective

Carlsson et al (2011)[298]

4

B

EV

8

People with sudden hearing loss are more than twice as likely as those with normal hearing to develop depressive disorders

Tseng et al (2016)[299]

4

C

8

Sudden hearing loss is associated with higher than normal levels of anxiety disorder

Chung et al (2015)[300]

4

C

8

Clients with severe and profound hearing loss require early assessment and intervention for depression and anxiety

Carlsson et al (2015[8]

4

B

EV

CI

8

Both depression and anxiety are higher in people with hearing loss

Kvam et al (2007)[161]

4

C

EF

8

Mental ill-health is associated with severe hearing loss

De Graaf & Bijl (2002)[160]

4

C

EF

9

Incorporating information about a client's self-management of their hearing loss improves clinical decision making and management planning

Convery et al (2019)[301]

3

C

EV

3.2. Rehabilitation: Training to Develop Effective Communication Strategies, with Clients and Family

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

The client's health problems are always contextualized in the everyday life activities of the client.

Tjørnhøj-Thomsen (2009)[302]

6

D

EV

2

The clinician should aim to understand the client's experience of hearing loss to find out the individual needs that would lead to an individualized rehabilitation plan.

BSA Rehabilitation (2016)[303]

1

A

EV

3

The psychosocial concerns of the client should be addressed in the appointments to increase their motivation.

Ekberg et al (2014)[304]

4

B

EV

3

Motivational engagement early in the client journey might have some positive effects on the rehabilitation process.

Ferguson et al (2016)[297]

3

B

EV

3

The empirical findings of the study indicate that motivation is an important contributor to decision-making in hearing rehabilitation.

Ridgway et al (2015)[305]

4

B

EV

MM

3

It is important to help the clients using volitional processes to translate high motivation into behavior.

Sawyer et al (2019)[294]

3

B

EV

4

Auditory training or perceptual learning tends to induce plastic changes in the brain. Therefore, it seems plausible that motivation of the client to consistently and intensively train for a longer time is necessary for success. client

Stropahl et al (2019)[306]

1

A

EF

5

Cued speech is able to enhance speech perception in patients with severe and profound hearing impairment

Bayard et al (2019)[307]

3

B

EF

P

5

If clients acquire severely maladaptive communication strategies onward referral to an external source of communication support is often helpful to support the client and the audiologist

Hallam et al (2008)[308]

4

B

EV

6

There is a variety of options on auditory rehabilitation that should be known by the audiologist and recommended to the client based on individual needs.

BSA Rehabilitation (2016)[303]

1

A

EV

7

Computerized auditory training supports auditory rehabilitation

Henshaw & Ferguson (2013)[113]

1

A

EV

7

Evidence exists that the internet/online tools are valid for interventions of auditory rehabilitation for hearing-aid users.

Thorén et al (2014)[309]

2

A

EF

8

Client-centered approaches support people to develop effective ways to manage their condition independently.

BSA Rehabilitation (2016)[303]

1

A

EV

8

Clients with severe and profound hearing loss need to manage their condition on their own most of the time. Audiologists therefore should facilitate the self-management of their clients.

Barker et al (2015)[310]

4

B

EV

9

A rehabilitation program that includes the significant other has a positive effect on the attitude of the client with hearing impairment and the significant other on the hearing aids.

Kramer et al (2005)[311]

1

A

EV

Barker et al (2017)[312]

1

A

EV

MM

10

It is proposed that the use of scientifically developed change behavior models enhances audiological rehabilitation.

Coulson et al (2016)[313]

6

D

EF

10

The use of hearing health behavior change theories is increasing to support help-seeking clients with hearing impairment.

Ferguson et al (2016)[314]

6

D

EF

10

There is reasonably good evidence that participation in an adult aural rehabilitation program provides short-term reduction in self-perception of hearing handicap and potentially better use of communication strategies and hearing aids.

Hawkins (2005)[315]

1

A

EV

3.3. Rehabilitation: Contact with Peers to Provide Support and Reduce Isolation

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/P/ CI

4

The intensive rehabilitation program included full integration of family members into all aspects of the program, peer education whereby specially trained deafened people provide most of the education and guidance, and an emphasis on learning and therapy through group work.

Sherbourne et al (2002)[316]

4

B

EV

_

1

Around 65 to 70% of participants were in regular contact with other people with hearing impairments. In around 40%, this was through a self-help organization.

Hallam (2006)[5]

4

C

EV

_

1

Significant effects from attending the program included training provided by deafened people who have personal experience of acquired deafness, and who offer realistic managing skills and positive role models

Sherbourne et al (2002)[316]

4

B

EV

_

2

Access to Peer Support Group services is often mediated by Hearing Health Care Professionals.

Southall et al (2019)[317]

4

C

EV

_

2

Peer Support Group referral is low, ranging from less than 5% of hearing aid users (Kochkin et al. 2010) to 19.1% of audiological clients with hearing loss (Stika and Ross 2006).

Southall et al (2019)[317]

4

C

EV

_

3

As might be expected, audiologists were most consistently regarded as useful, followed by medical consultants. Help received when first deafened was usually regarded as more useful than help currently received.

Hallam (2006)[5]

4

C

EV

_

3

A qualitative study of 10 adults with profound hearing loss reported that the benefits of Peer Support Group involvement were: (1) practical and accessible information about hearing loss; (2) social belonging leading to personal transformation; and (3) a new and mutually beneficial direction.

Southall et al (2019)[317]

4

C

EV

_

4

The intensive rehabilitation program included full integration of family members into all aspects of the program, peer education whereby specially trained deafened people provide most of the education and guidance, and an emphasis on learning and therapy through group work.

Sherbourne et al (2002)[316]

4

B

EV

_

4

Significant effects of the program included participation of carers in all aspects of a program that is designed to address their needs too.

Sherbourne et al (2002)[316]

4

B

EV

_

5

Enhanced collaboration between Hearing Health Care Professionals and Peer Support Group organizers may lead to a more comprehensive level of hearing health care than what is currently offered by Aural Rehabilitation programs or Peer Support Group alone.

Southall et al (2019)[317]

4

C

EV

_

6

A support center for people with hearing loss found 51.1% reported that as a result they took part in activities more. The services' benefit was that early intervention by rehab services can help maintain safety, help maintain independence & minimise the emotional impact of hearing loss

Smith et al (2016)[318]

4

B

EV

MM

3.4. Rehabilitation/Selecting and using Appropriate Assistive Listening Solutions

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/P/ CI

1

The FOCAS is a single, clinical tool that:

(i) Integrates family centered care (FCC) so that clients and their families develop shared goals, are fully informed of the various rehabilitation options available and are central in deciding which is best for them

(ii) Explores the emotive impact of hearing loss

(iii) Considers holistic hearing needs, including both near- and far-field situations.

Crowhen & Turnbull (2018)[83]

4

C

EV

MM

1

Some deaf seniors are early and enthusiastic adopters of technology, some are more hesitant, and some are in between. Technology deployment strategies will need to be tailored for everyone.

Singleton (2019)[319]

4

B

EV

_

2

For assistive technologies: There is a serious lack of expertise and skills available in most countries. P469

de Witte et al (2018)[320]

6

B

EF

2

A study of 208 NHS sites were surveyed including ENT and Audiology departments. A significant lack of “deaf awareness” among frontline staff was identified.

Jama et al (2019)[321]

4

B

EV

2

Poor training also a problem in low and medium income countries.

McPherson (2014)[322]

6

D

EV

2

There is a disproportionately high level of morbidity among deaf and hard of hearing during natural disasters

Romero et al (2019)[323]

4

C

EV

2

Voice-only cell/mobile phone is very difficult

Singleton (2019)[319]

4

B

EV

_

2

Text-based communication is highly used with the majority using smartphones, social media, email, SMS texting.

Singleton (2019)[319]

4

B

EV

_

2

Ensure the safety and appropriateness of Apps

Romero et al (2019)[323]

4

C

EF

2

Majority no longer use TTY (Text-Telephone also called TDDs)

Singleton (2019)[319]

4

B

EV

_

2

Many use closed-caption television

Singleton (2019)[319]

4

B

EV

_

2

Many use alert technology flashing-light alerts e.g., door-bell, phone etc, vibrating alarm.

Singleton (2019)[319]

4

B

EV

_

2

Minority use Home-security systems.

Singleton (2019)[319]

4

B

EV

2

Many use internet based Video conferencing for sign-language conversation

Singleton (2019)[319]

4

B

EV

2

Automated sign-language translation is under development but currently cannot be applied in real-time.

Hermawati & Pieri (2019)[324]

1

A

EV

2

Sign-language interpreters continue to be needed.

Singleton (2019)[319]

4

B

EV

2

For a review and recommendation of a range of assistive technologies for severe and profound hearing loss: See Hermawati et al. (2019) [Table 3] p.8

Hermawati & Pieri (2019)[324]

1

A

EV

3

There has been a focus on high end technical solutions in recent research and developments. There is a great need for low tech and affordable assistive technologies. There are… advantages of scale when accessibility of the environment is addressed in the community, workplace and public settings, for example through hearing loops.

MacLachlan (2018)[325]

6

D

EF

3

Of 208 reception points surveyed, 64% of Audiology clinics and 42% of ENT clinics had communication assistive devices available for clients. 83% of the devices were telecoil.

Jama et al (2019)[321]

4

B

EV

3

In response to one looped venue of their choice, 458 participants rated 756 venues on a 10 point scale where 1= “heard nothing” to 10 = ” heard every word.” Ratings of ≥8 were given by13.5% of participants for hearing aid alone as and 86% for the hearing loop system.

Kochkin et al (2014)[326]

4

B

EV

3

90% reported that the loop system increased their satisfaction with their hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Kochkin et al (2014)[326]

4

B

EV

4

Working demos in the clinic client rooms increases client involvement and un-prompted engagement with working demos.

Bankaitis (2007)[327]

6

D

EV

4

Demos were reported to be beneficial for “learning the basics,” but limited in experimenting with a product thoroughly. Some participants preferred trial versions with relatively extended periods.

Ding et al (2015)[328]

4

C

EV

4

70% of hearing impaired clients reported that they were not informed about hearing assistive technology (except hearing aids).

Bankaitis (2007)[327]

6

D

EV

5

Expert opinion

6

D

6

Humanitarian activities can include commitments to provide affordable hearing assistive devices, including professional associations, charitable foundations, and faith-based organizations.

McPherson (2014)[322]

6

D

EV

6

Systems to provide Assistive technology have been in place for many years as part of national and healthcare welfare systems. This will increase following the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006).

de Witte et al (2018)[320]

6

B

EF

7

Dog recipients reported significant reductions in hearing-related problems with environmental sounds, reduced tension and anxiety, depression, and increased social involvement and independence.

Guest et al (2006)[329]

1

A

EV

Rintala et al (2008)[330]

1

A

EV

7

Dogs helped with safety by alerting to someone calling the dog recipient's name, finding help in an emergency, door and elevator bells.

Rintala et al (2008)[330]

1

A

EV

7

Hearing dog owners reported decreased loneliness, increased socializing in the hearing community and scored lower on life stress scores that control.

Hart et al (1996)[331]

1

A

EV

_

4.0. Tinnitus

4.1. Tinnitus: Check whether Medical Treatment is Required

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Hearing care professionals should use at least one measure of tinnitus-related disability if tinnitus is reported which impairs emotion, cognition, attention, tasks and daily life.

Cima et al (2019)[139]

1

A

EV

MM

The tinnitus assessment includes an audiologic examination and appropriate questionnaires, such as the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).

Tunkel et al (2014)[332]

1

A

EV

MM

1

In a systematic review, no evidence was identified that evaluated the questionnaires or measures to assess tinnitus in people who are d/Deaf or who have a severe-to-profound hearing loss.

NICE (2020)[333]

1

A

MM

1

The constant wearing of hearing aids with occluding earmolds increases the risk of impacted earwax or cerumen. Common treatable otologic conditions that cause tinnitus such as cerumen impaction or other ear canal obstructions, should be excluded first.

Tunkel et al (2014)[332]

1

A

EV

MM

2

In most of the cases, the origins of tinnitus are unknown. However, tinnitus may occur due to a specific cause which might be treatable (i.e., cerumen or cardiovascular issues). For a list of known conditions associated with tinnitus please see [Table 7] on page S20 of Cima et al 2019.

Cima et al (2019)[139]

1

A

EV

MM

3

In the case of severe and profound hearing loss with tinnitus, there are several otological diseases which are known risk factors for tinnitus, including otosclerosis, Ménière's disease, and vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma).

Baguley et al (2013)[334]

1

A

EV

CI

4.

Long standing tinnitus should be investigated if the tinnitus changes and the hearing loss is stable.

Tunkel et al (2014)[332]

1

A

EV

MM

4.2. Tinnitus: Address the Hearing Loss

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/P/ CI

1

A systematic review found that there is currently very limited research regarding how to manage tinnitus in patients who are D/deaf or who have a severe-to-profound hearing loss. Therefore there is no clinical evidence or guidance on how to manage this important group of people.

NICE (2020)[333]

1

A

MM

1

In the case of hearing loss and tinnitus, hearing aids are recommended to treat hearing loss in the first instance. This is likely to enhance the individual's listening and communication abilities, improve quality of life and have positive effects on the tinnitus symptoms.

Cima et al (2019)[139]

1

A

EV

MM

Tunkel et al (2014)[332]

1

A

EV

MM

AAA (2001)[335]

1

A

EV

1

Provision of hearing aids for tinnitus will always have the potential consequence of reducing the distress associated with hearing loss and so any clinical improvement that is specific to tinnitus will always be difficult to estimate accurately.

Hoare et al (2014)[336]

1

A

EV

MM

2

Cochlear implantation is recommended only for clients meeting the hearing loss criteria for candidacy and not for the treatment of tinnitus.

Cima et al (2019)[139]

1

A

EV

MM

2

Cochlear implantation is not only appropriate where the primary motivation for treatment is the restoration of speech understanding but can also be appropriate where it is for the alleviation of tinnitus.

BCIG (2017)[257]

CI

2

Cochlear implantation improves or eliminates tinnitus in up to 86% of clients with profound hearing loss and tinnitus.

Baguley et al (2013)[334]

1

A

EV

CI

2

There is a risk that Cochlear implantation might induce tinnitus in ∼9% of the cases

Kompis et al (2012)[154]

3

B

EV

CI

4.3. Tinnitus: Therapies

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Sound generators (as available in combination devices of hearing aids and sound generators) can provide tinnitus relief by providing sound enrichment.

Tunkel et al (2014)[332]

1

A

EV

MM

Cima et al (2019)[139]

1

A

EV

MM

1

However multiple studies including two randomized controlled trials (RCT) found no difference in effectiveness between amplification only and in combination devices.

Tutaj et al (2018)[337]

1

A

EV

_

Sereda et al (2018)[338]

1

A

EV

_

1

A systematic review found no evidence for the use of amplification devices including sound therapy devices, for people who are d/Deaf or who have a severe-to-profound hearing loss.

NICE (2020)[333]

1

A

MM

2

Hearing aids with tinnitus sound generators must be used with extreme care. In the presence of severe and profound hearing loss, combination aids should not be recommended to subjects where expected level of sound/noise would have to be excessively loud such that they impede speech perception or if the subject cannot hear the sound/noise from the device (see also section 4.4).

BSA (2020)[339]

1

A

EV

MM

2

There is no evidence that sound therapy for tinnitus is any more effective than no-device-methods, such as waiting list control, placebo or education/information counselling. There is also no evidence than one or another sound therapy option is better than hearing aid alone, including sound generator or combination sound generator and hearing aid.

Sereda et al (2018)[338]

1

A

EV

_

3

Sound therapy may be useful in the treatment of acute tinnitus but evidence for long term benefits is lacking. There is no risk for safety but also little evidence for effectiveness.

Sereda et al (2018)[338]

1

A

EV

_

Cima et al (2019)[139]

1

A

EV

MM

Tunkel et al (2014)[332]

1

A

EV

MM

3

For adults with severe and profound hearing loss, sound therapy using environmental enrichment sounds is not recommended due to the high levels of sound needed to provide relief of tinnitus. Other important sounds might be masked by the sound enrichment.

Expert opinion

6

D

EV

3

The level of combination sound generator noise should be: audible to the subject, set so it is not intrusive to everyday hearing.

BSA (2020)[339]

1

A

EV

MM

4

For Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) there is evidence for safety but little high-level evidence for the effectiveness. The finding is based on one RCT and two systematic reviews. TRT is currently not recommended.

Cima et al (2019)[139]

1

A

EV

MM

Hoare et al (2011)[340]

1

A

EV

MM

4

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is highly recommended for the treatment of tinnitus. There is high-level evidence for the effectiveness and safety of CBT for tinnitus from both systematic reviews and a more recent RCT.

Cima et al (2019)[139]

1

A

EV

MM

Hoare et al (2011)[340]

1

A

EV

MM

4

Cognitive behavior therapy was more effective than controls at post-treatment. Effects were maintained at follow-up and were robust.

Hesser et al (2011)[341]

1

A

EF EV

MM

4

Despite psychological treatment modalities having the best evidence base for successful tinnitus management, only a minority of tinnitus patients ever get to meet a psychologist.

McFerran et al (2018)[342]

4

C

MM

4

The multimodal treatment program for tinnitus and hyperacusis including a specific CBT method proves to be a highly effective means of significantly reducing not only tinnitus and hyperacusis but also accompanying distress.

Nolan et al (2020)[343]

4

B

MM

5

Those who administer therapies and counselling may include professionals and volunteers who are not trained in audiology and may therefore require the support of the HCP in effectively delivering therapies in the presence of severe and profound hearing loss.

McKenna et al (2017)[344]

1

A

EV

_

5

It is important to be aware that severe and profound hearing loss may impair communication in a way that can prevent full participation in therapy when it is delivered in a group or online. In the case of severe and profound hearing loss therapy can be optimally delivered at individual and face-to-face sessions.

Expert opinion

6

D

EV

6

Anxiety and depression are known comorbidities of Tinnitus and should be addressed in case of occurrence.

Baguley et al (2013)[334]

1

A

EV

CI

6

Severe and profound hearing loss is a compounding factor known to be associated increased rates of depression and anxiety (comorbidities of tinnitus). For example, these factors result in greater reluctance to participate in social occasions, increasing the likelihood of social isolation.

Souza & Hoover (2018)[147]

4

B

EV

6

Severe and profound hearing loss also causes difficulty with everyday communication that has implications for work, social activities, and overall health. As a consequence of communication difficulty, listeners with severe hearing loss report higher levels of anxiety and stress (comorbidities of tinnitus).

Gevonden (2015)[345]

1

A

EV

6

For hearing aid wearers with severe and profound hearing loss, annoying tinnitus might have strong negative effects on quality of life. Any resulting anxiety, depression (and vertigo) should be referred for treatment as early as possible in the rehabilitative process.

Carlsson et al (2015)[8]

4

B

EV

CI

6

Signs of anxiety or depression can be assessed with appropriate questionnaires. In case of symptoms clients must be referred to appropriate medical staff, especially psychologists.

Cima et al (2019)[139]

1

A

EV

MM

McFerran et al (2018)[342]

4

B

EV

MM

7

For severe-to-profound hearing loss., the standard care for tinnitus is not feasible, it is important that effective interventions are developed and investigated.

NICE (2020)[333]

1

A

MM


# 5

Measuring Outcomes and Long-Term Management


# 5.1

Measurement of Outcomes and Assessing if Treatment Goals have been Addressed

Key Concepts

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/P/ CI

1

Self-report outcomes measures with known psychometric properties can be useful for determining the benefits and effectiveness of hearing aids and the impact on the client's quality of life.

Valente et al (1998)[346]

6

D

1

Many factors need to be considered when measuring outcomes

Saunders et al (2005)[347]

6

D

2

Questionnaire data are sensitive to fitting parameters

Valente et al (2018)[348]

2

A

EF

MM

Anderson et al (2018)[349]

2

A

EF

MM

3

For maximum clinical usefulness, outcome questionnaire should be specifically in the hearing domain as greater effect sizes are shown

Chisolm et al (2007)[350]

4

B

EV

_

3

Outcome questionnaire should align with ICF core set for hearing loss

Danermark et al (2013)[351]

6

D

_

Granberg et al (2014)[352]

6

D

EV

4

Chosen questionnaire should have proven reliability, valid, sensitivity and with available normative data.

Cox (2005)[26]

6

D

MM

5

Client reported outcome measures are available that show before and after comparisons of an intervention such as hearing aid fitting.

Dillon et al (1997)[76]

4

B

EV

Gatehouse (1999)[77]

4

B

EV

Cox et al (2000)[141]

6

D

EV

MM

6

Ecological momentary assessment or similar tools may offer future alternatives to subjective questionnaires for gathering outcome information and is less dependent on subjective recall.

Timmer et al (2017)[353]

4

B

EV

MM


#
# 5.2

Measuring Outcomes: Assessing Need for Onward Referral

Objective

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

Hearing care professionals should become familiar with local criteria for cochlear implants

Chundu & Buhagiar (2013)[354]

4

B

EV

CI

Carlson et al (2018)[355]

4

B

EV

Vickers et al (2016)[356]

4

B

EV

Raine et al (2016)[175]

6

D

CI

2

Aided speech testing has an important role in screening for candidacy for cochlear implant assessment.

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

CI

2

There are practical challenges in using speech audiometry to measure the differences between rehabilitative interventions.

Green (1997)[357]

6

D

2

Aided speech testing does not correlate well with subjective measure of use and benefit of hearing aids

Parving (1991)[358]

4

B

EF

MM

3

Remote microphones aid speech discrimination in noise

Rodemerk & Galster (2015)[359]

3

B

EF

Kates et al (2019)[360]

3

B

EF

4

Consider referring to an ear, nose and throat service if there is abnormal appearance of the outer ear or eardrum of if persistent middle ear effusion.

NICE Hearing loss in adults (2018)[74]

6

D


#
# 5.3

Measuring Outcomes: Ensuring Appropriate On-going Management

Objective

Rec

Evidence

Source (reference)

Level

Grade

EF/EV

MM/ P/ CI

1

individuals with moderately severe hearing loss had lower self-efficacy for aided listening conditions than individuals with mild hearing loss

Kawaguchi et al (2019)[361]

4

B

EV

MM

1

Hearing aid management skills and knowledge are associated with better outcomes

Bennett et al (2018)[362]

4

B

EV

MM

2

Hearing and earmolds should be regularly maintained

Souza (2009)[1]

6

D

4

Individuals should be seen for regular review

Goggins & Day (2009)[363]

4

C

EV

6

Regular review should explore CI candidacy given that one of the reasons for not pursuing a CI is lack of awareness.

Holder et al (2018)[22]

3

C

EV

CI

Turunen-Taheri et al (2019)[176]

4

B

EV

CI

7

While many hearing care professionals are aware of CI criteria, many reported lack of training and confidence for discussing CIs and making referrals

Chundu & Buhagiar (2013)[354]

4

B

EV

CI

Allen et al (2018)[364]

4

D

EV

CI

7

Lack of health care professional knowledge is one of the barriers to cochlear implant uptake.

Bierbaum et al (2020)[365]

4

B

EV

CI

7

Training can significantly improve knowledge of CI candidacy

Raine et al (2016)[175]

6

D

CI

8

Numbers of adults with severe and profound hearing loss could be as low as less than 7% of a clinic

Turton & Smith (2013)[10]

4

B

EV

8

Hearing care professionals prefer training in a variety of formats: in-house training in their local centres, workshops at CI centres, online training and training by CI manufacturers

Allen et al (2018)[364]

4

D

EV

CI

Davies et al (2019)[366]

6

D

Appendix 2 - List of Relevant Guidelines not Specific to Severe and Profound Hearing Loss

List of Guidelines

Abbreviated title

Full title and reference

AAA Adult hearing loss (2006)

Valente M, Abrams H, Benson D, et al. Guidelines for the audiologic management of adult hearing loss. Audiol Today. 2006; 18(5): 32–36

https://audiology-web.s3.amazonaws.com/migrated/haguidelines.pdf_53994876e92e42.70908344.pdf [169]

AAA Algorithms & statements (2000)

American Academy of Audiology. Clinical practice algorithms and statements. Audiol Today. 2000; Special Issue: 32–49

https://audiology-web.s3.amazonaws.com/migrated/ClinicalPracticeAlgorithms.pdf_539975b62e5c03.11632560.pdf [367]

AAA Tinnitus (2001)

American Academy of Audiology. Audiologic Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Tinnitus Patients. Audiol Today. 2001; 13(2): 23–24

https://www.audiology.org/sites/default/files/audiologytoday/2001ATMarApr.pdf [335]

AAA Remote mic for children (2011)

American Academy of Audiology. Clinical Practice Guidelines: Remote Microphone Hearing Assistance Technologies for Children and Youth from Birth to 21 Years (Includes Supplement A). https://www.audiology.org/publications-resources/document-library/hearing-assistance-technologies. 2011[103]

AAA Unilateral S to P HL (2015)

American Academy of Audiology Clinical Practice Guidelines: Adult Patients with Severe-to-Profound Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss. https://www.audiology.org/sites/default/files/PractGuidelineAdultsPatientsWithSNHL.pdf. 2015[97]

ANSI Hearing Assistive Systems (2014)

American National Standards Institute. American National Standard Specification of Performance Measurement of Hearing Assistance Devices/Systems (ANSI/ASA S3.47–2014). https://global.ihs.com/doc_detail.cfm?gid=INBPHFAAAAAAAAAA&input_doc_number=ASA. 2014[103]

ASHA Hearing aid fitting (1998)

ASHA Ad Hoc Committee on Hearing Aid Selection and Fitting. Guidelines for Hearing Aid fitting for Adults. Am J Audiol. 1998; 7(1): 5–13[368]

ASHA Aural rehabilitation (2001)

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Knowledge and skills required for the practice of audiologic/aural rehabilitation [Knowledge and Skills]. https://www.asha.org/policy/KS2001-00216/. 2001[369]

ASHA FM systems (2002)

American Speech Language Hearing Association. Guidelines for Fitting and Evaluation of FM Systems. https://www.asha.org/policy/GL2002-00010.htm. 2002[107]

ASHA Tinnitus (2014)

see Tunkel et al (2014)[332]

Australia Clinical standards (2014)

Audiology Australia Professional Practice Standards - Part B Clinical Standards https://audiology.asn.au/Tenant/C0000013/Position%20Papers/Member%20Resources/Clinical%20Standards%20partb%20-%20whole%20document%20July13%201.pdf. 2013[370]

Boecking et al (2019)

Boecking B, Brueggemann P, Mazurek B. Tinnitus: psychosomatische Aspekte. HNO. 2019; 67: 137[371]

BAA (2020) Cochlear Implants

Dickinson A, Howe S. It is time to talk about Cochlear Implants. British Academy of Audiology, Service Quality Committee. https://www.baaudiology.org/app/uploads/2020/04/CI_BAA_Dickinson_FINAL_BAAtitle4.pdf. 2020[109]

BAA & BSA (2019)

British Academy of Audiology & British Society of Audiology. Definition of 'optimally aided' for experienced adult hearing users with severe-to-profound deafness. https://www.baaudiology.org/indexphpnews/news-home/definition-optimally-aided/. 2019[89]

BCIG (2020) CI Children and Adults

British Cochlear Implant Group Quality Standards. Quality Standards Cochlear Implant Services for Children and Adults. 2020 Revision. First published 2018. https://www.bcig.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/QS-update-2018-PDF-final.pdf [256]

BSA Rehabilitation (2016)

British Society of Audiology. Practice Guidance - Common Principles of Rehabilitation for Adults in Audiology Services. https://www.thebsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/OD104-52-Practice-Guidance-Common-Principles-of-Rehabilitation-for-Adults-in-Audiology-Services-2016.pdf. 2016[303]

BSA Speech in noise (2019)

British Society of Audiology. Practice Guidance Assessment of speech understanding in noise in adults with hearing difficulties. https://www.thebsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/OD104-80-BSA-Practice-Guidance-Speech-in-Noise-FINAL.Feb-2019.pdf. 2019[372]

BSA Tinnitus in Children (2015)

British Society of Audiology. Tinnitus in Children Practice Guideline. https://www.thebsa.org.uk/resources/tinnitus-in-children-practice-guidance/. 2015[373]

BSA Tinnitus in Adults (2019)

British Society of Audiology. Tinnitus in Adults Practice Guideline. www.thebsa.org.uk. 2019[374]

BSA Verification (2018)

British Society of Audiology. Practice Guidance on the verification of hearing devices using probe microphone measurements. http://www.thebsa.org.uk. 2018[94]

CASLPO Adult Assessment (2018)

College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario. Practice standards and guidelines for hearing assessment of adults by audiologists. http://www.caslpo.com/sites/default/uploads/files/PSG_EN_Hearing_Assessment_of_Adults_by_Audiologists.pdf. 2018[375]

CMS (2005)

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Decision Memo for Cochlear Implantation (CAG-00107N). https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-decision-memo.aspx?NCAId=134. 2005. Accessed January 20, 2020[254]

EUHA (2017)

European Union of Hearing Aid Acousticians. Wireless remote microphone systems – configuration, verification and measurement of individual benefit Guideline 04–06 - v1.0. http://www.euha.org/assets/Uploads/Leitlinien/Expertenkreis-04-Hoerakustik/EUHA-Guideline-04-06-en.pdf. 9 May 2017[104]

European tinnitus (2019)

Cima R, Mazurek B, Haider H, et al. A multidisciplinary European guideline for tinnitus: diagnostics, assessment, and treatment. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs00106-019-0633-7.pdf. 2019[139]

NZAS Clinical standards (2015)

New Zealand Audiological Society (NZAS). Professional Practice Standards Part B Clinical Practice. www.audiology.org.nz [376]

NHS UK Action Plan (2015)

National Health Service UK. Action Plan on Hearing Loss. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/act-plan-hearing-loss-upd.pdf. 2015[377]

NHS Scotland Rehabilitation (2008)

National Health Service Scotland. Quality Standards for Adult Hearing Rehabilitation Services - Audiology Services Advisory Group. http://www.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/media/CLT/ResourceUploads/4076053/26fbc595-da89-4938-8c3d-a0511b747c2e.pdf. 2008[88]

NHS UK Tinnitus Services (2009)

National Health Service UK. Provision of Services for Adults with Tinnitus: A Good Practice Guide. January 2009[378]

NHS Commissioning (2016)

National Health Service England. Commissioning Services for People with Hearing Loss: A Framework for Clinical Commissioning Groups. Office of the Chief Scientific Officer. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/HLCF.pdf. 2016[379]

NHS Wales Rehabilitation (2016)

National Health Service Wales. Quality Standards for Adult Hearing Rehabilitation Services - Version 2. https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-10/quality-standards-for-adult-hearing-rehabilitation-services.pdf. July 2016[380]

NICE Cochlear implants (2019)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Technology appraisal guidance: Cochlear implants for children and adults with severe to profound deafness. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta566. 2019[255]

NICE Hearing loss in adults (2018)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Hearing loss in adults: assessment and management. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng98. 2018[74]

NICE Tinnitus in adults (2020)

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Tinnitus: assessment and management. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng155. 2020[333]

Thibodeau & Johnson (2014)

Thibodeau L, Johnson C. Wireless Technology to Improve Communication in Noise. Semin Hear. 2014; 35: 157[381]

Thibodeau & Wallace (2014)

Thibodeau L, Wallace S. Guidelines and Standards for Wireless Technology for Individuals with Hearing Loss. Semin Hear. 2014; 35: 159–167[106]

Tinnitus Systematic Review (2017)

Fuller TE, Haider HF, Kikidis D, et al. Different teams, same conclusions? A systematic review of existing clinical guidelines for the assessment and treatment of tinnitus in adults. Front Psychol. 2017; 8(Article 206): 1–15[382]

Tunkel et al Tinnitus (2014)

Tunkel DE, Bauer CA, Sun G, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Tinnitus. Otolaryng Head Neck. 2014; 151(2 Suppl): S1-S40[332]

Appendix 3 - References

Reference Table Cross Referencing all Relevant General Guidelines (Not Specific to Severe and Profound Hearing Loss) with Each Section of the Current Guidelines

Guideline by topic

AAA Adult hearing loss (2006)[169]

AAA Algorithms & statements (2000)[369]

AAA Tinnitus (2001)[336]

AAA Remote mic for children (2011)[103]

AAA Unilateral S to P HL (2015)[98]

ANSI Hearing Assistive Systems (2014)[104]

ASHA Hearing aid fitting (1998)[370]

ASHA Aural rehabilitation (2001)[371]

ASHA FM systems (2002)[108]

Australia Clinical standards (2013)[373]

BAA (2020) Cochlear Implants[110]

BCIG (2020) CI Children and Adults[257]

Boecking et al (2019)[374]

BSA Rehabilitation (2016)[304]

BSA Speech in noise (2019)[375]

BSA Tinnitus in Children (2015)[376]

BSA Tinnitus in Adults (2019)[377]

BSA Verification (2018)[95]

CASLPO Assessment (2018)[378]

CMS (2005)[255]

EUHA (2017)[105]

European tinnitus (2019)[141]

NZAS Clinical standards (2015)[379]

NHS UK Action Plan (2015)[380]

NHS Scotland Rehabilitation (2008)[89]

NHS UK Tinnitus Services (2009)[381]

NHS Commissioning (2016)[382]

NHS Wales Rehabilitation (2016)383

NICE Cochlear implants (2019)[256]

NICE Hearing loss in adults (2018)[75]

NICE Tinnitus in adults (2020)[334]

Thibodeau & Johnson (2014)[384]

Thibodeau & Wallace (2014)[107]

Tinnitus Systematic Review (2017)385

Tunkel et al Tinnitus (2014)[333]

Diagnostic assessment

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Non-auditory assessment

X

X

X

X

X

Social needs and treatment goals

X

X

X

X

X

X

Treatment plan

X

X

X

X

X

Compression

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Device choices and programs

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Frequency lowering

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Prescriptions and verification

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Asymmetrical hearing loss

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Threshold shift and MPO

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Remote mic: Recommending and ongoing use

X

X

Remote mic: Component considerations

Remote mic: Verification

X

X

X

X

X

Cochlear Implant: Referral

X

X

X

Bimodal Fitting

X

X

X

Other Implantable devices

Psychosocial and communication rehabilitation

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Tinnitus

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Measuring outcomes

X

X

X

X

X

Follow-up and ongoing care

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Onward referral

X

X


#
#
#

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

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