Aydoğan Z., Polat Z., Ataş A., Hayır D., Çinar Satekin M., Kara E., et al.
1. Çerçeve Programı Projesi, 1. Çerçeve Programı Projesi, 2020 - 2021
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Proje Türü:
1. Çerçeve Programı Projesi
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Destek Programı:
1. Çerçeve Programı Projesi
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Başlama Tarihi:
Nisan 2020
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Bitiş Tarihi:
Mart 2021
Proje Özeti
Executive Summary
The majority of global hearing loss and the associated disability occurs in populations residing in low-
and middle-income countries, yet these areas receive only a tiny proportion of the world production
of hearing aids and other associated hearing rehabilitation.
This report details the results of two studies focused on adult populations in low- and middle-income
countries. The first examined the hearing profiles and characteristics of clinical samples from 23 sites
across 16 low- and middle-income countries. The second study was a laboratory and clinical trial of
conventionally customized hearing aids and pre-programmable hearing aids.
The data from the first study suggests that clinical populations in low- and middle-income countries
differ from those in high income regions in several important ways. Firstly, low- and middle-income
clinical populations showed higher proportions of severe and profound hearing loss. Secondly, the
common patters of hearing loss (hearing profiles) were flatter than those reported in studies from
high income regions. Lastly, there was a high proportion of conductive and mixed hearing losses in the
sample.The majority of global hearing loss and the associated disability occurs in populations residing in low-
and middle-income countries, yet these areas receive only a tiny proportion of the world production
of hearing aids and other associated hearing rehabilitation.
This report details the results of two studies focused on adult populations in low- and middle-income
countries. The first examined the hearing profiles and characteristics of clinical samples from 23 sites
across 16 low- and middle-income countries. The second study was a laboratory and clinical trial of
conventionally customized hearing aids and pre-programmable hearing aids.
The data from the first study suggests that clinical populations in low- and middle-income countries
differ from those in high income regions in several important ways. Firstly, low- and middle-income
clinical populations showed higher proportions of severe and profound hearing loss. Secondly, the
common patters of hearing loss (hearing profiles) were flatter than those reported in studies from
high income regions. Lastly, there was a high proportion of conductive and mixed hearing losses in the
sample.
The large unmet need for hearing rehabilitation in low- and middle-income regions necessitates the
consideration of alternative service delivery models. The use of pre-programmed hearing devices,
which can be delivered by minimally trained healthcare workers, is of particular interest as this
service delivery model can potentially be used on a large scale to meet the enormous unmet need.
The laboratory and clinical studies described in this report suggest a number of strengths and
weaknesses associated with the use of pre-programmable hearing aids.The majority of global hearing loss and the associated disability occurs in populations residing in low-
and middle-income countries, yet these areas receive only a tiny proportion of the world production
of hearing aids and other associated hearing rehabilitation.
This report details the results of two studies focused on adult populations in low- and middle-income
countries. The first examined the hearing profiles and characteristics of clinical samples from 23 sites
across 16 low- and middle-income countries. The second study was a laboratory and clinical trial of
conventionally customized hearing aids and pre-programmable hearing aids.
The data from the first study suggests that clinical populations in low- and middle-income countries
differ from those in high income regions in several important ways. Firstly, low- and middle-income
clinical populations showed higher proportions of severe and profound hearing loss. Secondly, the
common patters of hearing loss (hearing profiles) were flatter than those reported in studies from
high income regions. Lastly, there was a high proportion of conductive and mixed hearing losses in the
sample.
The large unmet need for hearing rehabilitation in low- and middle-income regions necessitates the
consideration of alternative service delivery models. The use of pre-programmed hearing devices,
which can be delivered by minimally trained healthcare workers, is of particular interest as this
service delivery model can potentially be used on a large scale to meet the enormous unmet need.
The laboratory and clinical studies described in this report suggest a number of strengths and
weaknesses associated with the use of pre-programmable hearing aids.