Therefore, according to World Bank figures, for low-income, lower-middle income, and low- and middle-income countries combined, the affordable price would be approximately $20, $68, and $135, respectively. The WHO guideline states that a hearing aid should be no more than 3% of the gross national product, per capita, per hearing aid ( 7). Hearing aids can cost between $500–$3,000 in the US. One of the factors contributing to variable hearing aid uptake is cost. ARHL is managed primarily through use of hearing aids ( 4), but uptake varies globally ( 5, 6). Age-Related Hearing Loss (ARHL) is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in older adults and is estimated to affect 900 million people by 2050 ( 3). This study has identified key improvement indicators required to enhance sound quality and user experience of the LoCHAid.Īccess to ear and hearing health services are limited or non-existent in low-income countries ( 1), with less than 10% of the global production of hearing aids being distributed to this population ( 2). Qualitative data analysis identified two key themes: Sound Quality and User experience.Ĭonclusion: The results from this feasibility study are encouraging, but a comprehensive, larger clinical study is needed to draw firm conclusions about the LoCHAid's performance. Results: Overall, there was no significant difference found between LoCHAid and refurbished hearing aids, and the two device types each showed a similar degree of improvement after fitting. Questionnaire scales were analysed using general linear models and inductive thematic analysis was used to evaluate qualitative data. Five standardized hearing qualities questionnaires were used to compare outcomes pre and post device fitting and between devices. Methods: Sixteen adults with high frequency hearing loss, and no prior experience of hearing aids, took part in this study, nine were fitted with the LoCHAid and seven were fitted with refurbished, programmable hearing aids, for a one-month trial. The aim of this feasibility study was to compare the outcomes of an ultra-low-cost hearing aid (LoCHAid) to programmable, refurbished hearing aids for adults with high-frequency hearing loss, in Blantyre, Malawi. Introduction: Access to ear and hearing health services are limited or non-existent in low-income countries, with less than 10% of the global production of hearing aids distributed to this population. 11Department of Speech and Hearing, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.10Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.9Virtual Hearing Lab, Collaborative Initiative Between University of Colorado School of Medicine and University of Pretoria, Aurora, CO, United States.8UCHealth Hearing and Balance, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, United States.7Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States.6Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States.5School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States.4Audiology and ENT, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.3SOUND lab, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.2Ear Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom.1DeafKidz International, London, United Kingdom.Bhavisha Parmar 1,2,3* Mwanaisha Phiri 4 Louis Jailos 4 Regina Kachapila 4 Benjamin Saleb 5,6 Wakisa Mulwafu 4 Vinay Manchaiah 7,8,9,10,11 M.
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