Effectiveness of Hearing Aids in the Management of Psychological Distress in Hearing-Impaired Adults

To determine the effectiveness of hearing aids in the management of psychological distress in hearing-impaired adults, this randomized controlled trial was done in the ENT department KEMU/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from October 2022 to March 2023. One hundred fourteen patients presenting with sensorineural hearing loss on pure tone audiometry of both genders aged between 20 and 70 years were included in the study. Patients presented with mixed hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, and known psychiatric disorders were excluded from the study. Patients were divided into two groups, control group (group A) and treatment group (group B), by using simple randomization method. Group B patients were dispensed with programmable behind-the-ear hearing aid. The psychological distress of patients was measured using Kessler Distress Scale 6. Follow-up was done after 3 months, and psychological distress of the control group and treatment group was measured by Kessler Distress Scale 6. p < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. The mean age of patients was 45.90 ± 13.90. The mean nervousness score before treatment was 2.91 ± 0.76 and after treatment was 1.85 ± 0.69 (p < 0.05). The mean hopelessness score before and after the hearing aid was 2.87 ± 0.75 and 1.66 ± 0.86 (p < 0.05). The mean restlessness score was 2.87 ± 0.85 and 1.42 ± 0.59 (p < 0.05). The mean depression score was 3.10 ± 0.74 and 1.31 ± 0.73 (p < 0.05). The mean effort score was 3.07 ± 0.77 and 1.33 ± 0.71 (p < 0.05). The mean worthlessness score was 2.50 ± 0.73 and 0.78 ± 0.90 (p < 0.05). Hearing loss is associated with psychological distress and poor quality of life. Hearing aids are effective in the management of psychological distress in adults.