Let’s face it. Hearing aids are an investment in your health, and one you want to be sure is well worth it. So, how do you know if you’ll be satisfied with your hearing aids? It’s hard to make any guarantees. After all, much depends on the professional you work with, the type of hearing aids you purchase, your specific hearing loss, and many other factors.
But a study recently published in the Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, evaluated determinants of hearing aid benefit and satisfaction ratings using a large-scale survey to analyze the relation between demographic variables, hearing aid attributes, benefit and satisfaction.
The study used a retrospective design where 2,109 hearing aid users, recruited by Hearing Tracker and the Hearing Loss Association of America, completed an online survey. The survey included questions about demographics, perceived hearing loss, devices, service delivery, cost, benefit, and satisfaction. This analytic approach included descriptive summaries and regression models to evaluate potential determinants of hearing aid benefit and satisfaction ratings.
What the researchers found was that hearing aid sound quality, fit and comfort, and battery life were related to both benefit and satisfaction. Respondents who rated these outcomes favorably were also likely to benefit from, and be satisfied with, their hearing aids.
Benefit was also related to degree of hearing loss, hearing aid experience, and cost. Hearing aid users with greater self-perceived hearing loss, more hearing aid experience, and more expensive hearing aids reported more benefit. Satisfaction was also related to age, employment status, and brand. Younger respondents, those who were students, and those using certain brands reported more satisfaction.
At Associated Audiologists, we routinely survey our patients using paper hearing aid satisfaction and audiologist service satisfaction surveys. We also ask patients to provide us with online reviews.
Of the nearly 6,000 patients surveyed by the practice since 2020 about satisfaction with their hearing aids and audiologist, approximately 94% say using their hearing aids has benefited their hearing and communication. Ninety-nine percent surveyed say their audiologist was professional, courteous and sensitive to their needs, and 98% would recommend Associated Audiologists to a friend.
In addition, we have nearly 1,200 Google reviews from our patients, with an average rating of 4.9 stars out of 5, indicating great patient satisfaction with our team and the service they provide.
If you’re in the market for hearing aids, be sure to thoroughly check out the audiologist and practice you are considering working with. Ninety percent of your success with hearing aids is related to the professional you work with and the relationship you establish with your audiologist.
The members of the Associated Audiologists team are all doctoral-level professionals whose practice is guided by our mission and core values: integrity, compassion, innovation, personalized service, and excellence. They are members of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA), hold certificates of clinical competence in audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), and also serve as ad hoc graduate faculty with the University of Kansas-Medical Center.
In addition, the Associated Audiologists Team features professionals who use advanced diagnostic and verification technology to diagnose and treat hearing loss. The practice offers digital hearing products from the world’s most respected manufacturers backed by unparalleled service.
Find out the difference Associated Audiologists can make for you. Read our online reviews.
Schedule an appointment with one of our doctoral-level audiologists.
