How does HHIE score predict hearing aid adoption? (Seet et al., 2025)

<b>Background: </b>Age-related hearing loss has long been linked to various health problems, such as dementia. Although the use of hearing aids (HAs) is one of the most effective ways to manage hearing loss, there is a general reluctance to adopt HAs among older adults. Self-perception of one’s hearing loss is one of the major factors influencing HA adoption. The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), a highly validated questionnaire, represents the perception of hearing loss in everyday life. The aim of this review is to investigate the possible relationship between prefitting HHIE scores and HA adoption.<b>Method: </b>A comprehensive literature search was conducted on Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL Ultimate, Web of Science, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL and CDSR), and APA PsycINFO. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed to select relevant studies. Nine studies were included in the review.<b>Results: </b>Eight of the nine studies reported a significant association between HA adoption and higher HHIE scores. Five studies found a significant difference in mean HHIE scores between the HA adoption group and the nonadoption group, while six studies found a positive odds ratio between higher HHIE scores and higher rates of HA adoption. Using the combined data reported in the studies, the statistical difference between the mean HHIE scores of the two groups was analyzed. The results showed a significant difference between the HHIE scores of the groups with and without HA adoption.<b>Conclusions: </b>In general, higher HHIE scores prior to fitting were predictive of a higher rate of subsequent HA adoption. It is possible to use HHIE questionnaires to screen individuals with audiometrically proven hearing loss, and more interventions should be targeted at those who report low HHIE scores, as they have a lower tendency to adopt HAs despite significant hearing problems.<b>Supplemental Material S1.</b> Demographic characteristics and relevant audiometric measurement of all study populations.Seet, K. Y., Mo, P. H., Siu, T. C., Ng, I. H.-Y., &amp; Chang, W.-T. (2025). How does the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly score predict the intention of hearing aid adoption in older adults? <i>Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research</i><i>, </i><i>68</i>(9), 4529–4549. https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_JSLHR-24-00887

**背景：** 年龄相关性听力损失长期以来被认为与痴呆等多种健康问题密切相关。尽管助听器（hearing aids, HAs）是管理听力损失的最有效手段之一，但老年群体普遍不愿佩戴助听器。个体对自身听力损失的自我认知是影响助听器佩戴意愿的核心因素之一。老年听力障碍量表（Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly, HHIE）是一款经过高度验证的问卷，用于评估个体在日常生活中的听力损失感知情况。本综述旨在探讨佩戴助听器前的HHIE评分与助听器佩戴意愿之间的潜在关联。
**研究方法：** 本研究在Medline、EMBASE、CINAHL Ultimate、Web of Science、Cochrane图书馆（CENTRAL及CDSR）以及APA PsycINFO数据库中开展了全面的文献检索。制定了纳入与排除标准以筛选相关研究，最终本次综述共纳入9项研究。
**研究结果：** 9项研究中有8项指出，助听器佩戴与更高的HHIE评分之间存在显著关联。5项研究发现，助听器佩戴组与未佩戴组的平均HHIE评分存在显著差异；另有6项研究表明，更高的HHIE评分与更高的助听器佩戴率之间存在正相关优势比。本综述整合各项研究的公开数据，对两组的平均HHIE评分进行了统计学差异分析，结果显示助听器佩戴组与未佩戴组的HHIE评分存在显著差异。
**研究结论：** 总体而言，佩戴助听器前更高的HHIE评分可预测后续更高的助听器佩戴率。可通过HHIE问卷对经听力检测证实存在听力损失的个体进行筛查，同时应针对HHIE评分较低的人群开展更多干预措施——尽管此类人群存在明显的听力问题，但其佩戴助听器的意愿却相对较低。
**补充材料S1：** 所有研究对象的人口统计学特征及相关听力学检测数据。
Seet, K. Y., Mo, P. H., Siu, T. C., Ng, I. H.-Y., & Chang, W.-T. (2025). 《老年听力障碍量表评分如何预测老年人的助听器佩戴意愿？》，《言语、语言与听力研究杂志》, 68(9), 4529–4549. https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_JSLHR-24-00887