Comparison of personal sound amplification products and conventional hearing aids for patients with hearing loss: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Chih-Hao Chen; Chii-Yuan Huang; Hsiu-Lien Cheng; Heng-Yu Haley Lin; Yuan-Chia Chu; Chun-Yu Chang; Ying-Hui Lai; Mao-Che Wang; Yen-Fu Cheng

EClinicalMedicine (Apr 2022)

Comparison of personal sound amplification products and conventional hearing aids for patients with hearing loss: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Chih-Hao Chen,
Chii-Yuan Huang,
Hsiu-Lien Cheng,
Heng-Yu Haley Lin,
Yuan-Chia Chu,
Chun-Yu Chang,
Ying-Hui Lai,
Mao-Che Wang,
Yen-Fu Cheng

Affiliations

Chih-Hao Chen: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Chii-Yuan Huang: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Hsiu-Lien Cheng: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Heng-Yu Haley Lin: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Yuan-Chia Chu: Department of Information Management, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Medical AI Development Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Department of Information Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Chun-Yu Chang: Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan
Ying-Hui Lai: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation & Translation Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Mao-Che Wang: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Yen-Fu Cheng: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201, Sec. 2, Shi-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Corresponding author at: Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 201, Sec. 2, Shi-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 46
p. 101378

Abstract

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Summary: Background: Hearing loss is a common morbidity that requires a hearing device to improve quality of life and prevent sequelae, such as dementia, depression falls, and cardiovascular disease. However, conventional hearing aids have some limitations, including poor accessibility and unaffordability. Consequently, personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) are considered a potential first-line alternative remedy for patients with hearing loss. The main objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of PSAPs and conventional hearing aids regarding hearing benefits in patients with hearing loss. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Five databases and reference lists were searched from inception to January 12, 2022. Studies including randomised, controlled trials; nonrandomised, controlled trials; or observational studies comparing PSAPs and hearing aids with regard to hearing gain performance (e.g., speech intelligence) were considered eligible. The review was registered prospectively on PROSPERO (CRD42021267187). Findings: Of 599 records identified in the preliminary search, five studies were included in the review and meta-analysis. A total of 124 patients were divided into the PSAP group and the conventional hearing aid group. Five studies including seven groups compared differences for speech intelligence in the signal-noise ratio (SNR) on the hearing in noise test (HINT) between PSAPs and conventional hearing aids. The pooled results showed nonsignificant differences in speech intelligence (SMD, 0.14; 95% CI, -0.19 to 0.47; P = .41; I2=65%), sound quality (SMD, -0.37; 95% CI, -0.87 to 0.13; P = .15; I2=77%) and listening effort (SMD 0.02; 95% CI, -0.24 to 0.29; P = .86; I2=32%). Nonsignificant results were also observed in subsequent analyses after excluding patients with moderately severe hearing loss. Complete sensitivity analyses with all of the possible combinations suggested nonsignificant results in most of the comparisons between PSAPs and conventional hearing aids. Interpretation: PSAPs are potentially beneficial as conventional hearing aids are in patients with hearing loss. The different features among PSAPs should be considered for patients indicated for hearing devices. Funding: This work was supported by grants from Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST-10-2622-8-075-001) and Veterans General Hospitals and University System of Taiwan Joint Research Program (VGHUST111-G6-11-2 and VGHUST111c-140).

Published in EClinicalMedicine

ISSN: 2589-5370 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/home

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