Personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) may represent a potentially affordable and accessible option in hearing health care.15 adults (mean age = 71.2 years) with mild-to-moderate hearing loss completed sentence-based speech-in-noise testing under 7 conditions: unaided, aided with 1 advanced hearing aid (HA), aided with 4 different mid to high-performance PSAPs, and aided with 1 low-end PSAP. All devices were adjusted by an audiologist for best fitting possible. Device and sentence list order were randomized.The absolute change in correct score percentage from unaided was compared across devices. Overall, mean score improvement with was within 15% of HA with 2 PSAPs and within 5% with 2 PSAPs. One PSAP was associated with a decline in score.Our pilot results suggest that some PSAPs may be comparable to HAs in a controlled environment. These data support further investigation of PSAPs as potential introductory or transitory technologies in hearing rehabilitation.
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