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Purpose: The aims of this study were to determine if a remotely delivered, Internet-based auditory training (AT) program improved speech-in-noise understanding and if the number of hours spent engaged in the program influenced postintervention speech-in-noise understanding.
Method: Twenty-nine first-time hearing aid users were randomized into an AT group (hearing aids + 3 week remotely delivered, Internet-based auditory training program) or a control group (hearing aids alone). The Hearing in Noise Test (Nilsson, Soli, & Sullivan, 1994) and the Words-in-Noise test (Wilson, 2003) were administered to both groups at baseline + 1 week and immediately at the completion of the 3 weeks of auditory training.
Results: Speech-in-noise understanding improved for both groups at the completion of the study; however, there was not a statistically significant difference in postintervention improvement between the AT and control groups. Although the number of hours the participants engaged in the AT program was far fewer than prescribed, time on task influenced the postintervention Words-in-Noise but not Hearing in Noise Test scores.
Conclusion: Although remotely delivered, Internet-based AT programs represent an attractive alternative to resource-intensive, clinic-based interventions, their demonstrated efficacy continues to remain a challenge due in part to issues associated with compliance.
Untreated hearing loss has been found to have negative overall functioning and quality of life effects, such as cognitive and functional decline, social isolation, higher risk of falls, decreased social and emotional function, and communication decline (Kramer, Kapteyn, Kuik, & Deeg, 2002; Lin et al., 2011; Tun, McCoy, & Wingfield, 2009; Uhlmann, Larson, Rees, Koepsell, & Duckert, 1989). Hearing aids are the primary intervention strategy for hearing loss, and despite impressive technological advancements and evidence of their effectiveness, only 74% of hearing aid users reported being satisfied, with the remaining 26% reporting either dissatisfaction or having neutral feelings toward their hearing aids. One of the top reasons for dissatisfaction is a perceived lack of benefit, particularly in background noise (Kochkin, 2007). In order to overcome this dissatisfaction, patients may require additional postfitting audiologic rehabilitation (AR) services, including auditory training (AT) designed to improve speech understanding in challenging listening situations (Sweetow & Henderson Sabes, 2006). Research has supported the benefits of AT on speech perception (Chisolm & Arnold, 2012; Henshaw & Ferguson, 2013; Kricos & Holmes, 1996; Olson, Preminger,...