A measure of long-term hearing-aid use persistence based on battery re-ordering data

Zobay, Oliver; Dillard, Lauren K.; Naylor, Graham; Saunders, Gabrielle H.

Abstract

Objective: We describe the construction of a hearing-aid long-term use persistence measure based on battery reorder data. The measure is derived from the notion that hearing-aid users keep using their devices for some time after placing a battery order. Design: A hearing-aid user is defined as persistent at time í µí±‡ if they placed a battery order within a timespan í µí±Š preceding í µí±‡. We characterize and validate this measure using electronic health records from a large sample of US Veterans. Results: We describe how to choose parameters í µí±‡ and í µí±Š for calculating persistence rates in the patient sample. For validation, the associations of persistence with (a) the duration over which users received outpatient hearing-aid care, (b) self-reported hearing-aid use shortly after fitting, (c) patient age and hearing loss are investigated. In all cases, plausible dependencies are observed. Conclusions: We conclude that our persistence measure is viable and hope this will motivate its use in similar studies.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 21, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Apr 1, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Deposit Date: Feb 9, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 1, 2021
• Journal: Ear and Hearing
• Print ISSN: 0196-0202
• Electronic ISSN: 1538-4667
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 42
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1441-1444
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0000000000001032
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5313089
• Publisher URL: https://journals.lww.com/ear-hearing/Abstract/9000/A_Measure_of_Long_Term_Hearing_Aid_Use_Persistence.98519.aspx