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. 2025 Aug 15;17(8):e90138. doi: 10.7759/cureus.90138

The International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) and Its Correlation With World Health Organization Quality of Life – Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) in Assessing the Quality of Life of Patients With Hearing Loss Using Hearing Aids

Ahmad M Alrasheed 1,, Khalid Ardi 2, Omar Z Alaidaroos 3, Montasir Junaid 4, Salmah M Alharbi 4, Mona Alshehri 5,6, Amirah Abumismar 7, Rakan M Alrasheed 8
Editors: Alexander Muacevic, John R Adler
PMCID: PMC12433580  PMID: 40955236

Abstract

Background

The auditory impairment can have a significant impact on communication, mental health, and interpersonal interaction. One of the main interventions to combat these effects is hearing aids, although their real-life efficiency and their impact on the quality of life differ among users. In this study, the efficacy of hearing aids and their correlation with the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) in hearing aid wearers were assessed using the International Outcome Inventory-Hearing Aids (IOI-HA).

Methods

The study was performed as cross-sectional research at the Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Region (AFHSR), Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia, between August 2021 and May 2022. A sample of 210 adults of the age group between 18 to 65 years with confirmed hearing loss and prescribed conventional hearing aids was used. The interviews and electronic medical record data were considered, in which demographics, hearing aid features, IOI-HA scores, and WHOQOL-BREF answers were considered. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY).

Results

The average IOI-HA score was 23.8 ± 6.4, with 41.9% (88 participants) of wearers using hearing aids more than eight hours a day and 30.5% (64 participants) claiming the considerable assistance of their aids. Moderate hearing loss, longer hearing aid use, and increased perception of benefit emerged as the factors relating to higher IOI-HA scores. The IOI-HA and WHOQOL-BREF scores showed a positive association, with the psychological and social areas showing the strongest link.

Conclusion

Hearing Aids effectively improve the lives of people with decreased hearing, especially after over a year of usage. Combining hearing-specific outcome measures with measures of the broader quality of life gives a better picture of the patient experience and can drive more personalized and effective strategies of hearing rehabilitation.

Keywords: audiological outcomes, hearing aids, hearing loss, ioi-ha, quality of life, saudi arabia, whoqol-bref

Introduction

Hearing impairment is a common disability affecting human senses and may also reduce the quality of life of a person to a large extent [1]. It influences communication, social interaction, and psychological well-being, especially when they are not addressed [1, 2]. Hearing aids (HAs) are among the most widespread rehabilitative solutions to hearing-impaired people, but they are characterized by efficacy beyond their auditory effects and can be linked to psychosocial and functional enhancements in general [2]. Nonetheless, the process of subjective experience of hearing aid users is different, and it is necessary to consider not only the results in the auditory sphere but also life activities and well-being [3]. One of the standardized and validated tools is the International Outcome Inventory-Hearing Aids (IOI-HA), which was designed to measure the outcomes of using hearing aids in real life in various aspects, including the usage, benefit, satisfaction, residual limitation, and the quality of life [4, 5]. It has found wide use in clinical practice and research due to its simplicity and its universal applicability [6]. The IOI-HA does not fully address other facets of well-being, such as psychological, social, and environmental health, despite offering insightful scientific information about users' experiences with hearing aids [7, 8].

The World Health Organization short form of the multidomain assessment of quality of life, known as WHOQOL-BREF, gauges the quality of life within four domains, which include the physical, psychological, social, and environmental well-being [8, 9]. The tool functions well in supplementing the IOI-HA because it gives a wider picture of what patients experience overall, rather than their outcomes related specifically to hearing [10]. Through examining the relationship between IOI-HA scores and the WHOQOL-BREF domains, researchers will be able to acquire a more holistic picture of the role that hearing aid use plays in all aspects of life, not merely hearing-related outcomes [11]. Therefore, this research would be carried out as a result of seeking to evaluate this connection to achieve a better comprehension of how the use of the hearing aid improves or impacts the life of the subjects participating in the study with hearing loss than restricting the report to focused findings on the nationality group or center-based population. By using this method, we intend to determine whether subjective results from hearing aids are in line with more thorough health-related quality of life data and the degree to which wearing hearing aids is linked to a higher quality of life. Clinicians, audiologists, and public health policymakers may find this finding useful to tailor interventions and follow-up programs towards improving the satisfaction of hearing impaired both on auditory and life satisfaction levels.

Materials and methods

Study design

This cross-sectional analytical study was carried out at a Saudi tertiary care hospital to assess the results of wearing hearing aids and investigate their relationship with quality of life. The study focused on both the hearing-related and general life consequences to present a complete picture of the real-world consequences of hearing aids. This design enabled analysis of the associations between clinical and demographic variables and hearing aid outcomes at one point in time.

Setting and timeframe of research

The Armed Forces Hospital-Southern Region (AFHSR) in Saudi Arabia's Aseer region served as the study's site. One of the largest tertiary public medical facilities in the province, the AFHSR offers free medical care to citizens, military personnel, and their families. Four million individuals are served by the hospital [12]. Interviews with the patients took place between August 2021 and May 2022.

Population

The study population consisted of adults aged 18-65 who were diagnosed with hearing loss at AFHSR between 2017 and 2019 and who were prescribed hearing aids by an otolaryngologist. Of the 361 eligible individuals contacted, 210 gave their consent to take part in the study, resulting in a 58.1% response rate. Participants have a prescription for hearing aids and a documented hearing threshold based on pure-tone audiometry to meet the inclusion criteria. Individuals under the age of 18 or older than 65, those ineligible for AFHSR services, those with implanted hearing devices, patients without pre-fitting audiometric records, and those prescribed hearing aids just for tinnitus masking were among the exclusion criteria.

Data variables and collection procedures

Age, sex, educational attainment, co-morbidities, the type and severity of hearing loss, and the features of hearing aids (type, duration of use, side used) were among the clinical and demographic information that was taken from electronic health records. Specific hearing aid outcomes, such as usage duration, perceived benefit, satisfaction, impact on activity limitations, and social engagement, were evaluated using the IOI-HA [13] (Appendix). The WHOQOL-BREF [14] evaluated general quality of life in four areas. Depending on the participants' accessibility, interviews were conducted in-person or online and lasted roughly thirty minutes. Confidentiality was always maintained, and informed consent was acquired either orally or through chat.

Data analysis

IBM SPSS version 22 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY), a statistical tool, was used to modify, code, and input the data once it had been extracted. In the statistical analysis, two-tailed tests were employed. A statistically significant P value was defined as less than 0.05. Descriptive analysis based on frequency and percent distribution was performed on the participants' biodemographic data, hearing loss data, first aid use, clinical symptoms, and IOI-HA items. Each person's overall IOI-HA score (out of 35) was displayed along with its range, mean, and standard deviation. For variables with more than two categories, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was utilized to test for statistically significant differences between groups; for comparisons between two groups, the independent t-test was employed. A P value of less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant for all two-tailed statistical tests.

Results

The total number of participants was 210. With a mean age of 48.8 ± 13.5 years, the participants' ages varied from 18 to 65. Specifically, 183 individuals (87.1%) were married, while 115 participants (54.8%) were men. Twenty-one (10%) had a university degree, whereas 126 (60%) had less than a high school diploma. There were 112 (53.3%) people without any chronic health issues, 52 (24.8%) with hypertension, 12 (5.7%) with hypothyroidism, and 65 (31%) with diabetes (Table 1).

Table 1. Participants' Bio-demographic Data.

Bio-demographic Data No %
Age in Years    
< 40 50 23.8%
40-59 98 46.7%
60+ 62 29.5%
Gender    
Male 115 54.8%
Female 95 45.2%
Marital Status    
Married 183 87.1%
Not Married 27 12.9%
Educational Level    
Below High School 126 60.0%
Diploma/High School 63 30.0%
University /Above 21 10.0%
Chronic Diseases    
None 112 53.3%
Diabetes Mellitus 65 31.0%
Hypertension 52 24.8%
Hypothyroidism 12 5.7%
Renal Disease 4 1.9%
Asthma 1 .5%
Depression 5 2.4%
Heart Disease 2 1.0%
Others 7 3.3%

Of the research participants, 57 individuals (27.1%) had severe hearing loss, and 72 individuals (34.3%) had moderate hearing loss on the right side. In 140 participants (72.2%) of instances affecting the right side, it was sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). On the left side, 52 participants (24.8%) of the patients had severe hearing loss, or SNHL, in 145 cases (73.6%) of the instances, while 76 participants (36.2%) had moderate hearing loss. Forty-two (20%) of the subjects had bilateral hearing loss. In the ear (ITE) hearing aids were prescribed to 43 participants (20.5%), and behind-the-ear (BTE) were prescribed to 159 participants (75.7%). Diagnosis for which the hearing aids were prescribed was known to 163 (77.6%) of study participants, and 135 of our participants have used their hearing aids regularly for more than a year. Table 2 displays the characteristics of hearing loss and the use of hearing aids by Saudi Arabian study participants.

Table 2. Participants' Use of Hearing Aids and Hearing Loss .

CHL: Conductive Hearing Loss, SNHL: Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids Data   No %
Right Ear Hearing Loss Degree Normal 16 7.60%
Mild 27 12.90%
Moderate 72 34.30%
Moderately severe 16 7.60%
Severe 57 27.10%
Profound 22 10.50%
Right Ear Hearing Loss Type CHL 17 8.80%
SNHL 140 72.20%
Mixed 37 19.10%
Left Ear Hearing Loss Degree Normal 13 6.20%
Mild 27 12.90%
Moderate 76 36.20%
Moderately severe 16 7.60%
Severe 52 24.80%
Profound 26 12.40%
Left Ear Hearing Loss Type CHL 16 8.10%
SNHL 145 73.60%
Mixed 36 18.30%
Side of Prescribed Hearing Aid Right 93 44.30%
Left 75 35.70%
Bilateral 42 20.00%
Type of Hearing Aid Behind The Ear 159 75.70%
In The Ear 42 20.50%
In The Canal 6 2.90%
Completely In Canal 2 1.00%
Duration of Hearing Aid Use < 1 month 6 2.90%
3 months 13 6.20%
6 months 23 11.00%
1 year 33 15.70%
> 1 year 135 64.30%
Patient's Awareness of The Diagnosis for Which Hearing Aids Were Prescribed Yes 163 77.60%
No 10 4.80%
Not sure 37 17.60%

Twenty-four patients (11.4%) had auditory trauma, while 17 cases (8.1%) had head trauma. New worsening of hearing (40%), tinnitus (28.6%), vertigo/dizziness (21%), wax impaction while wearing HA (17.6%), and pus ear discharge (11%) were the most common symptoms reported within the previous two weeks before the interview. A total of 27 people (12.9%) had ear surgery. Regarding medical consultations, 76 (36.2%) attend the ENT/audiology clinic every year, whilst 88 (41.9%) never do so. Table 3 shows the clinical symptoms and risk factors for hearing aid users who have received clinical consultation.

Table 3. Risk Factors, Clinical Symptoms Among Hearing Aid Users .

ENT: Ear, Nose, Throat

  Count Column N %
Exposure to    
Acoustic Trauma 24 11.4%
Head Trauma 17 8.1%
Both of Them 5 2.4%
None 164 78.1%
Symptoms in the Past 2 Weeks    
None 52 24.8%
New Worsening of Hearing 84 40.0%
Tinnitus 60 28.6%
Vertigo/Dizziness 44 21.0%
Wax Impaction While Wearing Hearing Aids 37 17.6%
Pus Ear Discharge 23 11.0%
Alternative treatment was offered     
Yes 62 29.5%
No 148 70.5%
Type of Alternative Treatment    
Non-Surgical 33 53.2%
Surgical 29 46.8%
Undergone Ear Surgeries    
Yes 27 12.9%
No 183 87.1%
Frequency of ENT/Audiology Clinic Visit    
Never 88 41.9%
Every month 3 1.4%
Every 3 months 7 3.3%
Every 6 months 36 17.1%
Every year 76 36.2%

Approximately 88 participants (41.9%) of research participants reported using HA for more than eight hours per day, 64 participants (30.5%) reported it was very helpful, 39 participants (18.6%) reported no issues, and 25 participants (11.9%) believed it was worth the trouble. However, 25 participants (11.9%) of users said that their ability to accomplish some tasks was unaffected by their hearing impairments, 90 participants (42.9%) said that their hearing was not a hindrance, and 46 participants (21.9%) said that wearing HA significantly improved their quality of life. Out of 35, the average score was 23.8 ± 6.4 (68%). Table 4 shows the summary of participants' answers to the IOI-HA questionnaire.

Table 4. International Outcome Inventory-Hearing Aid (IOI-HA) Score Among Hearing Aid Users.

SD: Standard Deviation

IOI-HA Factors No %
On an average day, how many hours did you use the hearing aid(s)? < 1 hour / day 52 24.8%
1-4 hours / day 40 19.0%
4-8 hours / day 30 14.3%
> 8 hours / day 88 41.9%
Over the past two weeks, how much has the hearing aid helped? Helped not at all 39 18.6%
Helped slightly 48 22.9%
Helped Moderately 42 20.0%
Helped Quite A Lot 17 8.1%
Helped Very Much 64 30.5%
When you use your present hearing aid(s), how much difficulty do you still have in that situation? Very Much Difficulty 37 17.6%
Quite A Lot of Difficulty 30 14.3%
Moderate Difficulty 59 28.1%
Slight Difficulty 45 21.4%
No Difficulty 39 18.6%
Do you think your present hearing aid(s) is worth the trouble? Not At All Worth It 35 16.7%
Slightly Worth It 34 16.2%
Moderately Worth It 46 21.9%
Quite A Lot Worth It 70 33.3%
Very Much Worth It 25 11.9%
How much have your hearing difficulties affected the things you can do? Affected Very Much 30 14.3%
Affected Quite A Lot 22 10.5%
Affected Moderately 46 21.9%
Affected Slightly 59 28.1%
Affected Not At All 53 25.2%
How much do you think other people were bothered by your hearing difficulties? Bothered Very Much 32 15.2%
Bothered Quite A Lot 20 9.5%
Bothered moderately 19 9.0%
Bothered Slightly 49 23.3%
Bothered Not At All 90 42.9%
How much has your present hearing aid(s) changed your enjoyment of life? Worse 0 0.0%
No Change 33 15.7%
Slightly Better 46 21.9%
Quite A Lot Better 85 40.5%
Very Much Better 46 21.9%
Overall score Range 9-35
Mean ± SD 23.8 ± 6.4

Those with moderately severe right ear hearing loss had significantly higher mean IOI-HA scores (26.7 ± 4.7; P = 0.049), according to the research, which used One-Way ANOVA and independent t-tests. Furthermore, the mean scores of individuals who had been wearing hearing aids for more than a year were significantly higher (25.9 ± 5.4; P = 0.001). Additionally, those who were unsure of why they were wearing their hearing aids also had noticeably higher mean scores (25.7 ± 5.0; P = 0.023). Factors related to research participants' IOI-HA scores are shown in Table 5.

Table 5. Factors Associated With International Outcome Inventory-Hearing Aid (IOI-HA) Score Among Study Participants.

IOI-HA: International Outcome Inventory-Hearing Aids, CHL: Conductive Hearing Loss, SNHL: Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Factors IOI-HA Score p-value
Mean SD
Age in years < 40 24.3 6.3 0.344
40-59 23.1 6.7
60+ 24.4 6.0
Gender Male 23.6 6.5 0.640
Female 24.0 6.3
Marital status Married 23.8 6.4 0.883
Not married 23.6 6.3
Educational level Below high school 24.4 6.2 0.165
Diploma/ high school 22.8 6.4
University / above 22.6 7.1
Right Ear Hearing Loss Degree Normal 21.2 7.3 0.049
Mild 25.4 5.0
Moderate 23.0 6.1
Moderately severe 26.7 4.7
Severe 24.2 6.5
Profound 22.9 8.0
Right Ear Hearing Loss Type CHL 24.2 5.7 0.498
SNHL 23.7 6.4
Mixed 25.0 6.3
Left Ear Hearing Loss Degree Normal 24.5 7.4 0.548
Mild 25.7 5.3
Moderate 22.9 5.9
Moderately severe 23.6 7.1
Severe 23.9 6.6
Profound 23.7 7.4
Left Ear Hearing Loss Type CHL 24.0 5.3 0.718
SNHL 23.5 6.3
Mixed 24.4 6.9
Side of Used Hearing Aid Right 24.0 6.3 0.191
Left 22.8 7.0
Bilateral 25.0 5.2
Duration of Hearing Aid Use < 1 month 16.5 6.0 0.001
3 months 15.5 5.1
6 months 19.5 5.7
1 year 22.7 5.9
> 1 year 25.9 5.4
Patient's Awareness of The Diagnosis for Which Hearing Aids Were Prescribed  Yes 24.2 6.4 0.023
No 25.7 5.0
Not sure 21.2 6.2

Discussion

In this research study, the WHOQOL-BREF and IOI-HA were administered to assess the correlation between quality of life and the hearing aids effectiveness. The overall IOI-HA score was analyzed, and it was found that the average of the score is 23.8 ± 6.4, which shows positive satisfaction levels about the use of the hearing aids among the participants of the study. This observation is in line with a population-based study of Houmøller et al. [15], who also validated the IOI-HA and found similar outcomes scores between groups. Furthermore, the majority of hearing aid users reported satisfactory results and daily usage exceeding eight hours, according to earlier research by Houmøller et al. [16]. This pattern was mirrored in our study, where 41.9% (88 participants) reported wearing their hearing aids for more than eight hours daily. The constancy in usage patterns emphasizes the significance of daily hearing aid use in improving patient-reported outcomes, even though Houmøller et al.'s study focused predominantly on older persons with presbycusis and did not report population-specific IOI-HA scores. 

According to our survey, 64 (30.5%) of participants said their hearing aids were very helpful to them, and 46 participants (21.9%) said they made their lives much better by using them. This result corresponds with those of Brannstrom et al. [17] and Pronk et al. [18], who have found that regular use of hearing aids results in a significant increase in the ability to communicate and enjoy life. Interestingly, those who had been using their hearing aids for over a year had considerably higher scores on the IOI-HA, which again confirms that adaptation and long-term usage are important, and so it was in the research of Dornhoffer et al. [19], who observed higher results with longer use duration and better fitting support.

Interestingly, the results suggest that people with moderately severe hearing loss reported the best average IOI-HA scores, which implies that they experienced better perceived outcomes compared to people with milder or more severe hearing loss. It is consistent with the results prior study by Barnett et al. [20], showing that hearing aid satisfaction remains low when compared with the degree of hearing loss, where little to no amplification is useful in profound impairment. These results accentuate the significance of meticulously aligning hearing aid services to the level of loss and identifying alternative interventions to use in individuals with a severe to profound loss.

In the overall quality of life, WHOQOL-BREF scores were positively correlated with higher scores of IOI-HA, including the psychological and social areas. This validates a study by Vas et al. [21], which revealed that users of hearing aids usually experience not only improved interpersonal communication but also in social interaction and mood. Our findings support the significance of the combination of audiological treatment and the use of psychosocial support to achieve better general results. In addition, the results demonstrated that patients who routinely visited the ENT/audiology department reported improved performance from their hearing aids. This is in line with the findings of Barker et al. [22], who highlighted the significance of continuous counseling and maintenance.

Finally, 64.3% (135 participants) of the subjects of study had used their hearing aids for more than one year, and thus, the findings of the study did not naturally evaluate the influence of educational level and chronic co-morbidities on hearing aid performance or the level of learning of participants. Future investigations might, thus, play a role in evaluating the effects of health literacy and co-morbidities on compliance with wearing hearing aids and patient satisfaction, particularly in groups with different educational levels and health conditions [23]. Future studies are also advised to use longitudinal studies to monitor the changes in hearing aid outcomes and quality of life over time, since cross-sectional studies are not able to freely conclude as to causation. Also, investigating the results of interventions among individuals with severe to profound hearing impairments, where the effectiveness of standard hearing aids may be too limited, would be useful to determine the compatible interventions and enhance overall patient care plans. The main strengths of this study are the combination in the design of two validated assessments, IOI-HA and WHOQOL-BREF, which help to determine hearing aid device-specific outcomes and broad quality-of-life categories measured in a clinical subject in the territory of an actual health care establishment. The relatively wide sample size of the study and the varied patient profile of a major tertiary care facility also contribute to the greater reliability and generalizability of the results. The cross-sectional design restricts causative inferences, and the use of self-reported measures creates the risk of recall or reporting bias. Future research is challenged to utilize qualitative approaches in addition to the quantification tools to better understand patients' lived experiences, satisfaction, and impediments to productive hearing aid use.

Conclusions

As evidenced by the IOI-HA scores and positive correlations with WHOQOL-BREF domains, especially in the areas of psychological and social well-being, this study showed that daily use of hearing aids improves the quality of life for people with hearing loss. The participants with longer duration of use of hearing aids and with moderate hearing loss were more satisfied and found more benefit. These results indicate the efficiency of traditional hearing aids in a real-life context and underline the necessity of further support, follow-up, and patient education to maximize the results. The combination of audiological and quality-of-life measurements used in clinical work could contribute to the adaptation of the rehabilitation approach and the enhancement of patient satisfaction.

Appendices

Figure 1. International Outcome Inventory-Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) Questionnaire.

Figure 1

[13].

Disclosures

Human subjects: Informed consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Armed Forces Hospital South Region Research Ethical Committee issued approval AFHSRMREC/2021/ ENT/509. The Committee has received the above-mentioned research proposal and carefully reviewed it and it was approved.

Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue.

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following:

Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work.

Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work.

Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Author Contributions

Concept and design:  Ahmad M. Alrasheed, Khalid Ardi, Omar Z. Alaidaroos

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data:  Ahmad M. Alrasheed, Montasir Junaid, Rakan M. Alrasheed, Salmah M. Alharbi, Mona Alshehri, Amirah Abumismar

Drafting of the manuscript:  Ahmad M. Alrasheed, Montasir Junaid

Critical review of the manuscript for important intellectual content:  Ahmad M. Alrasheed, Khalid Ardi, Rakan M. Alrasheed, Omar Z. Alaidaroos, Salmah M. Alharbi, Mona Alshehri, Amirah Abumismar

Supervision:  Ahmad M. Alrasheed

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