Audiological profile of first-time hearing aid users - implications for the development of a fast-track fitting protocol.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of implementing a fast-track process (single-session assess-and-fit appointment with no ENT specialist's examination) in hearing rehabilitation by investigating the accuracy of the protocol assignment applying various cut-off criteria and describing the audiometric profile of patients being evaluated for their first hearing aids.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Study Sample: Patients from a single institution (n = 1807, median age 75 years, IQR 67-82 years) undergoing the evaluation for their first hearing aid fitting.

Reliability of Primary Health Care Audiograms by Non-qualified Examiners-An Analysis of 1,224 Cases.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of primary health care audiograms conducted by non-qualified examiners in a non-standard acoustic environment.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Referring primary health care institutions and hospital hearing center.