Both clinical and research findings support the effectiveness of frequency-modulated
(FM) technology among individuals who continue to encounter significant communication
problems despite the use of conventional hearing instruments. The use rate of FM devices
throughout the nation, however, remains disappointingly low. The authors present a
case of a longtime hearing aid user whose hearing aids provided decreasing benefit
as his hearing impairment increased to the extent that cochlear implantation was considered.
Through the establishment of patient-specific treatment goals, the provision of appropriate
FM technology as verified through real-ear measurements, and careful and deliberate
counseling and follow-up, this patient was able to realize significant communication
benefits as reported through several self-assessment measures. The cost-benefit implications
of FM technology versus cochlear implantation are discussed.
Key Words
Bilateral - hearing aids - hearing loss - rehabilitation of hearing impaired
