PURPOSE: To study the difficulties faced by hearing impaired elderly patients related to the use of hearing aids, and to elaborate a didactic material on DVD, containing information about the use and handling of the hearing aid. METHODS: Ten elderly subjects, with ages ranging from 65 to 80 years, new users of hearing aids with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss participated in the study. After the adjustment period, a multiple choice questionnaire was applied to assess the difficulties they faced. RESULTS: Results showed that in the adaptation process with their hearing aids, elderly subjects have more difficulty to use and handle the apparatus and, mainly, to insert and remove the earmolds. Based on these results, a didactic material containing important information about using and handling hearing aids were elaborated on DVD. CONCLUSION: After considering the difficulties presented by hearing impaired elderly patients, it is important to emphasize the need for didactic material regarding orientation and adaptation of the hearing aids, in order to improve the use of amplification.
Multimedia; Aged; Hearing aids; Hearing loss, bilateral; Rehabilitation of hearing impaired
