- Design
- Randomised, single-blinded, parallel-group trial at 2 centres
- Population
- 275 adults aged ≥50 with age-related hearing loss, new to hearing aids
- Primary outcome
- APHAB benefit at 3 months
- Effect
- 19.7 vs 14.4; difference 5.3 points (95% CI 1.8 to 8.8)
In a single-blinded randomised trial at two US university audiology services, 275 adults aged 50 or over with age-related hearing loss and little prior aid use received either one or two receiver-in-the-canal hearing aids. The primary outcome was benefit on the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit at three months.
Both groups benefited: mean APHAB benefit was 14.4 with one aid and 19.7 with two. The difference was 5.3 points (95% CI 1.8 to 8.8) in favour of bilateral fitting. The authors say it is not clear this reaches clinical meaningfulness, and that both configurations produced individually meaningful gains.
For most patients, two aids are the better default. Where cost is the barrier, as it often is in India, a single aid still gives substantial benefit and is far better than none.
- Offer bilateral aids as the default for symmetrical age-related hearing loss.
- Where cost prevents two, fit one rather than delay — most of the benefit comes from aiding at all.
- Review benefit at three months and consider a second aid then.
- Explain that the extra gain from the second aid is modest.
Why it matters
It gives trial evidence for bilateral fitting while showing a single aid still delivers most of the benefit.
Don't overread it
The 5-point advantage is statistically clear but its clinical importance is uncertain, and follow-up was three months.
The statistics, in plain English
A 5.3-point difference on APHAB is detectable but smaller than the 14-point gain from one aid alone. The interval from 1.8 to 8.8 excludes no difference, but not a small one.
Read the rest in the app
You have read your two free briefings this month. The app carries all 27 specialties, every morning, free — and this finding is waiting in it.
Scan to keep reading on your phone. No account needed to start.
Tomorrow morning, before your first patient
One edition a day for ent & head and neck surgery, written by the desk, every claim tied to its paper. Six minutes.
Get the app — free