Healthy HeaAring for Healthy Ageing: Data-driven Hearing Rehabilitation Intervention to Promote Healthy Hearing

"HA fittings will be conducted with the Real-Ear Measurements (REM) method that is recommended by the latest ISO-standard (21388:2020) and by the preliminary results of the BREM study at KUH. After the fitting of the HAs, participants' auditory-related outcomes will be immediately assessed using DigiKuulo and re-fitting is performed if needed based on the following criteria:~1. The absolute improvement in the DIN test is less than 1,5dB (SNR), OR~2. The absolute result of the DIN test is more than -8,5 dB (SNR) OR~3. The participant is unsatisfied with the HA fitting~Participants are invited to intervention-related monitoring appointments at 3, 6 and 12 months after the primary HA fitting. At these visits, auditory outcomes of the rehabilitation are assessed via DigiKuulo and re-fittings are performed as needed."

HA will be fitted with automatic algorithms by HA manufacturers and REM-fitting is only applied in complex cases based on the hearing rehabilitator's clinical judgement. Three months after the HA fitting, participants will be contacted via phone call to inquire about the status of the rehabilitation. Additional monitoring visits may be offered based on the participant's feedback. After the 3-month monitoring phone call participants will be advised to further contact the study team if they are dissatisfied with the amplification or for any other problem with their device.