Who we are
We are a dedicated group of partners and people, who come from clinics, academia, technological service, and industry. We are medical audiologists and otologists, engineers, consultants and hearing aids professionals, some are young, others more experienced. Some of us work full-time on the project, others part-time juggling other obligations. A few of us know the challenges of hearing impairment first hand.
Medical Audiologist
Aalborg University Hospital
Dan Dupont Hougaard
Dan Dupont Hougaard received the Medical Degree from Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark in 2004. In 2012 he became a certified ENT Specialist, and has since 2014 been the Head of the Department of Audiology & Vestibular Disorders at Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark and and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark. Primary areas of interest include inner ear diseases, neurotology, and bone anchored hearing aids. His clinical research focuses on vestibular disorders, clinical vestibular testing and audiology. Dan Dupont Hougaard has since 2017 served as a board member and vice president of the Danish Vestibular Society.
Work Area
Dan Dupont Hougaard primarily contribute to the work with the centralized clinical database, and with the validation of new strategies.
Resources
Publications
2020 |
Narayanan, Sreeram Kaithali; Piechowiak, Tobias; Wolff, Anne; Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Narne, Vijaya K; Loquet, Gérard; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Gaihede, Michael; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass; Hammershøi, Dorte Speech related hearing aid benefit index derived from standardized self-reported questionnaire data Inproceedings Kressner, Abigail Anne; Regev, Jonathan; Christensen-Dalsgaard, Jakob; Tranebjærg, Lisbeth; Santurette, Sébastien; Dau, Torsten (Ed.): Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 2020. @inproceedings{ISAAR2019_sreeram_print, title = {Speech related hearing aid benefit index derived from standardized self-reported questionnaire data}, author = {Sreeram Kaithali Narayanan and Tobias Piechowiak and Anne Wolff and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Vijaya K. Narne and Gérard Loquet and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Michael Gaihede and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Dorte Hammershøi}, editor = {Abigail Anne Kressner and Jonathan Regev and Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard and Lisbeth Tranebjærg and Sébastien Santurette and Torsten Dau }, url = {https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2019-45}, year = {2020}, date = {2020-04-14}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research}, volume = {7}, abstract = {Speech understanding in noisy environments has been the most desired hearing-aid (HA) benefit sought by HA users. This paper examines the possibility of developing a speech-related HA benefit index from the speech- related questions in the self-reported questionnaire data. One question from Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) instrument 15D and nine questions from the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) having a direct implication to speech were selected for the analysis. After applying weights relevant to 15D, a delta of base-line (prior to HA fitting) and follow-up (two months after the initial fitting) responses to the selected questions were determined. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the scaled and centered delta values. The resultant principal component scores were used to derive the composite index indicative of speech-related HA benefit.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {inproceedings} } Speech understanding in noisy environments has been the most desired hearing-aid (HA) benefit sought by HA users. This paper examines the possibility of developing a speech-related HA benefit index from the speech- related questions in the self-reported questionnaire data. One question from Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) instrument 15D and nine questions from the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) having a direct implication to speech were selected for the analysis. After applying weights relevant to 15D, a delta of base-line (prior to HA fitting) and follow-up (two months after the initial fitting) responses to the selected questions were determined. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the scaled and centered delta values. The resultant principal component scores were used to derive the composite index indicative of speech-related HA benefit. |
Other
2019 |
Rye, Palle; Ordoñez, Rodrigo; Wolff, Anne; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass; Hammershøi, Dorte Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems, (SP.64), The Danavox Jubilee Foundation 2019. @conference{ISAAR2019PR, title = {A study of reliability and response patterns in self-administered audiometry for adult first-time hearing-aid users}, author = {Palle Rye and Rodrigo Ordoñez and Anne Wolff and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Dorte Hammershøi}, url = {https://whova.com/embedded/speaker_session_detail/isaar_201908/701149/}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-08-21}, booktitle = {Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems}, number = {SP.64}, organization = {The Danavox Jubilee Foundation}, abstract = {Out-of-clinic diagnostics offer the advantage of pre- and post-clinical screenings and potential benefits of increased user ownership, but at the possible cost of accuracy and reliability. The present study examines the determination of a classical audiometric threshold through a custom-made self-administered tablet test, utilizing off-the-shelf Bluetooth headphones. The test includes an initial familiarization session allowing characterization of the user's response time, and integrates a standard usability assessment (System Usability Scale, SUS) accompanied by the experimenter's observations and exit-interview responses. The study compares self-administered thresholds determined in the waiting room of Aalborg University Hospital for 16 potential hearing-aid users with the thresholds determined by the professionals in the subsequent session. The study also includes a comparison of thresholds determined in potential users' own homes, in which case the test is performed both with a standard transportable audiometer and with the out-of-clinic tablet system. The study is on-going.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } Out-of-clinic diagnostics offer the advantage of pre- and post-clinical screenings and potential benefits of increased user ownership, but at the possible cost of accuracy and reliability. The present study examines the determination of a classical audiometric threshold through a custom-made self-administered tablet test, utilizing off-the-shelf Bluetooth headphones. The test includes an initial familiarization session allowing characterization of the user's response time, and integrates a standard usability assessment (System Usability Scale, SUS) accompanied by the experimenter's observations and exit-interview responses. The study compares self-administered thresholds determined in the waiting room of Aalborg University Hospital for 16 potential hearing-aid users with the thresholds determined by the professionals in the subsequent session. The study also includes a comparison of thresholds determined in potential users' own homes, in which case the test is performed both with a standard transportable audiometer and with the out-of-clinic tablet system. The study is on-going. |
Narayanan, Sreeram Kaithali; Piechowiak, Tobias; Wolff, Anne; Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Narne, Vijay; Loquet, Gérard; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Gaihede, Michael L; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass; Hammershøi, Dorte Speech related hearing aid benefit index derived from standardized self-reported questionnaire data Conference Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems, (SP.50), The Danavox Jubilee Foundation 2019. @conference{isaar2019skn, title = {Speech related hearing aid benefit index derived from standardized self-reported questionnaire data}, author = {Sreeram Kaithali Narayanan and Tobias Piechowiak and Anne Wolff and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Vijay Narne and Gérard Loquet and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Michael L Gaihede and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Dorte Hammershøi}, url = {https://whova.com/embedded/speaker_session_detail/isaar_201908/701058/}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-08-21}, booktitle = {Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems}, number = {SP.50}, organization = {The Danavox Jubilee Foundation}, abstract = {Speech understanding in noisy environments has been the most desired hearing aid (HA) benefit sought by hearing aid users. This paper examines the possibility of developing a speech related HA benefit index from correlated speech related questions from three different self-reported questionnaire's (SSQ12, IOI-HA, and 15D). The 4 questions in SSQ12 (question number 1,4,11 and 12), 3 questions in IOI-HA(question number 3,5 and 6) and 3rd question from health-related quality of life questionnaire 15D relating to speech were found correlated and are chosen for further analysis. After the normalization of the relevant questions, a principal component analysis (PCA) is used to reduce the dimensionality and determine the coefficients. The resultant coefficients are used to create a common speech related HA benefit index.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } Speech understanding in noisy environments has been the most desired hearing aid (HA) benefit sought by hearing aid users. This paper examines the possibility of developing a speech related HA benefit index from correlated speech related questions from three different self-reported questionnaire's (SSQ12, IOI-HA, and 15D). The 4 questions in SSQ12 (question number 1,4,11 and 12), 3 questions in IOI-HA(question number 3,5 and 6) and 3rd question from health-related quality of life questionnaire 15D relating to speech were found correlated and are chosen for further analysis. After the normalization of the relevant questions, a principal component analysis (PCA) is used to reduce the dimensionality and determine the coefficients. The resultant coefficients are used to create a common speech related HA benefit index. |
Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Wolff, Anne; Narne, Vijaya; Loquet, Gérard; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Hammershøi, Dorte; Godballe, Christian; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems, (SP.20), The Danavox Jubilee Foundation 2019. @conference{isaar2019ssh, title = {Hearing aid satisfaction and differences in self-reported and data logged hearing aid usage time for experienced and first time users}, author = {Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Anne Wolff and Vijaya Narne and Gérard Loquet and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Dorte Hammershøi and Christian Godballe and Jesper Hvass Schmidt}, url = {https://whova.com/embedded/speaker_session_detail/isaar_201908/701041/}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-08-21}, booktitle = {Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems}, number = {SP.20}, organization = {The Danavox Jubilee Foundation}, abstract = {Background: Hearing aid (HA) satisfaction is assessed by the self-administered International Outcome Inventory of Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) questionnaire. Objectives: The aims of the current study were to investigate the level of HA satisfaction for experienced and first time HA users, and to evaluate any difference between self-reported and objectively measured HA usage time (through data logging). Design: Self-reported questionnaire survey. Patients enrolled in the national BEAR project, from January 2017 to January 2018, answered the seven-item IOI-HA questionnaire targeting different hearing outcome domains; each scored from 1-5. Data logged HA usage time was obtained at two months follow-up visits and compared to the self-reported usage time obtained from the initial IOI-HA questionnaire item. Results: The study population (n=1649) comprised of both experienced (n=458) and first time HA users (n=1191). Total mean IOI-HA scores for experienced HA users increased by ∆0,36 (SD=0,92). Differences in levels of satisfaction between the two groups were further analyzed. Moreover, data logged usage time for experienced users was 10.4 hours (SD=5,10) and 8.35 hours (SD=1,02) for first time users. 15,9% of experienced users (n=422) reported in average a usage time from 4 to 8 hours whereas 21,5% of first time users (n=1152) reported in average 4 to 8 hours usage time.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } Background: Hearing aid (HA) satisfaction is assessed by the self-administered International Outcome Inventory of Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) questionnaire. Objectives: The aims of the current study were to investigate the level of HA satisfaction for experienced and first time HA users, and to evaluate any difference between self-reported and objectively measured HA usage time (through data logging). Design: Self-reported questionnaire survey. Patients enrolled in the national BEAR project, from January 2017 to January 2018, answered the seven-item IOI-HA questionnaire targeting different hearing outcome domains; each scored from 1-5. Data logged HA usage time was obtained at two months follow-up visits and compared to the self-reported usage time obtained from the initial IOI-HA questionnaire item. Results: The study population (n=1649) comprised of both experienced (n=458) and first time HA users (n=1191). Total mean IOI-HA scores for experienced HA users increased by ∆0,36 (SD=0,92). Differences in levels of satisfaction between the two groups were further analyzed. Moreover, data logged usage time for experienced users was 10.4 hours (SD=5,10) and 8.35 hours (SD=1,02) for first time users. 15,9% of experienced users (n=422) reported in average a usage time from 4 to 8 hours whereas 21,5% of first time users (n=1152) reported in average 4 to 8 hours usage time. |
Wolff, Anne; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass; Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Narne, Vijay; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Gaihede, Michael; Loquet, Gérard; Hammershøi, Dorte Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems, (SP.76), The Danavox Jubilee Foundation 2019. @conference{isaar2019aw, title = {Health-related quality of life within a cohort of hearing impaired danish adults before and after hearing aid rehabilitation}, author = {Anne Wolff and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Vijay Narne and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Michael Gaihede and Gérard Loquet and Dorte Hammershøi}, url = {https://whova.com/embedded/speaker_session_detail/isaar_201908/701170/}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-08-21}, booktitle = {Poster presentation at the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research: Vol. 7: Auditory Learning in Biological and Artificial Systems}, number = {SP.76}, organization = {The Danavox Jubilee Foundation}, abstract = {15D is a standardized, self-administered, generic questionnaire that provides a profile (D1-15 score) and a single index score (D15-score) as a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) on a scale which ranges from zero to one. 15D also includes a question related to hearing (D3). When completed before and after hearing aid (HA) treatment the questionnaire can be used to assess the potential benefits of HA treatment related to HRQoL. Overall health status was collected by questionnaires (15D and a basic health-related questionnaire) before and two months after HA fitting. The study population (n=1536) comprised first time HA users (n=1096) and experienced HA users (n=440) enrolled in the BEAR project. HA resulted in improved mean score of D3 for both first time (∆D3: mean, SD (0.102; 0.19)) and experienced (∆D3: mean, SD (0.083; 0.20)) HA users after 2 months of HA use. Patients with "moderate to severe" and "severe" hearing loss, experienced a significant improvement in D3-HRQoL. The study supports that HA usage has a positive effect on HRQoL when looking at the hearing dimension. Degree of hearing loss alone does not explain the positive effect observed on D3-HRQoL. Therefore, additional parameters need to be studied in order to explain essential factors for patients with HL to be able to achieve an improvement of HRQoL following HA fitting.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } 15D is a standardized, self-administered, generic questionnaire that provides a profile (D1-15 score) and a single index score (D15-score) as a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) on a scale which ranges from zero to one. 15D also includes a question related to hearing (D3). When completed before and after hearing aid (HA) treatment the questionnaire can be used to assess the potential benefits of HA treatment related to HRQoL. Overall health status was collected by questionnaires (15D and a basic health-related questionnaire) before and two months after HA fitting. The study population (n=1536) comprised first time HA users (n=1096) and experienced HA users (n=440) enrolled in the BEAR project. HA resulted in improved mean score of D3 for both first time (∆D3: mean, SD (0.102; 0.19)) and experienced (∆D3: mean, SD (0.083; 0.20)) HA users after 2 months of HA use. Patients with "moderate to severe" and "severe" hearing loss, experienced a significant improvement in D3-HRQoL. The study supports that HA usage has a positive effect on HRQoL when looking at the hearing dimension. Degree of hearing loss alone does not explain the positive effect observed on D3-HRQoL. Therefore, additional parameters need to be studied in order to explain essential factors for patients with HL to be able to achieve an improvement of HRQoL following HA fitting. |
Loquet, Gérard; Narne, Vijay; Piechowiak, Tobias; Wolff, Anne; Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass; Hammershøi, Dorte Better Hearing Rehabilitation (BEAR) Study in Denmark: Introducing the Centralized Clinical Database Conference Poster at the 14th Congress of the European Federation of Audiology Societies (EFAS 2019), Lisbon, Portugal, 22-25 May 2019, (04087-P080), European Federation of Audiology Societies 2019. @conference{EFAS2019GL, title = {Better Hearing Rehabilitation (BEAR) Study in Denmark: Introducing the Centralized Clinical Database}, author = {Gérard Loquet and Vijay Narne and Tobias Piechowiak and Anne Wolff and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Dorte Hammershøi}, url = {https://fff0e2ea-6f01-41b9-b0dd-7dbdf3580dbb.filesusr.com/ugd/09d8d3_dc3fb64898554097a7427d3d03a1f290.pdf}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-05-22}, booktitle = {Poster at the 14th Congress of the European Federation of Audiology Societies (EFAS 2019), Lisbon, Portugal, 22-25 May 2019}, number = {04087-P080}, organization = {European Federation of Audiology Societies}, abstract = {Background: The purpose of the BEAR project is to improve hearing loss management by revising diagnostic techniques and hearing aid fitting practices based on individual hearing profiles, expectations and lifestyle. As a starting point, a large clinical database has been prepared to better characterize the current clinical status in Denmark. The analysis will be used to identify the main challenges faced by hearing aid users in order to develop appropriate tools to improve performances. Method: The study is a multicentre, prospective, open, non-randomized, single-arm trial with sequential enrolment of all qualified patients, conducted under a common clinical investigation plan. Up to almost 2,000 evaluable patients have been enrolled from two Danish clinics. After having undergone medical and audiological examination and other assessments (health related and quality of life questionnaires), the patients were prescribed a hearing aid and got a fitting. Approximately 2 months later, a follow-up visit took place and whenever needed an adjustment was offered (plus other assessments). An across-center database, hosted independently from clinics, universities and hearing-aid manufacturers but accessible by all parties, was created to gather the data (access granted to each partner if data managers adhere to ethical permissions and requirements for data security). Results: The investigation generated approximately 30’000 patient records and we started by characterizing the general distribution of audiometric data (air and bone conductions, speech tests) and questionnaires (health, speech, hearing aids, tinnitus and quality of life related). The analysis focused specifically on correlations detection between demographics, audiometric tests and questionnaires in order to classify patients into subsets. Conclusion: The present clinical database should be seen as a starting point for other BEAR work packages. We believe that such large variety of data generated will lead to a more comprehensive picture of the hearing-aid user and will bring benefits to both clinicians and manufacturers. Indeed, this first step represents the baseline against which new fitting strategies will be tested. Alternatively, clinically relevant subpopulations with low hearing-aid benefit will be identified and studied to tentatively bring alternatives in rehabilitation.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } Background: The purpose of the BEAR project is to improve hearing loss management by revising diagnostic techniques and hearing aid fitting practices based on individual hearing profiles, expectations and lifestyle. As a starting point, a large clinical database has been prepared to better characterize the current clinical status in Denmark. The analysis will be used to identify the main challenges faced by hearing aid users in order to develop appropriate tools to improve performances. Method: The study is a multicentre, prospective, open, non-randomized, single-arm trial with sequential enrolment of all qualified patients, conducted under a common clinical investigation plan. Up to almost 2,000 evaluable patients have been enrolled from two Danish clinics. After having undergone medical and audiological examination and other assessments (health related and quality of life questionnaires), the patients were prescribed a hearing aid and got a fitting. Approximately 2 months later, a follow-up visit took place and whenever needed an adjustment was offered (plus other assessments). An across-center database, hosted independently from clinics, universities and hearing-aid manufacturers but accessible by all parties, was created to gather the data (access granted to each partner if data managers adhere to ethical permissions and requirements for data security). Results: The investigation generated approximately 30’000 patient records and we started by characterizing the general distribution of audiometric data (air and bone conductions, speech tests) and questionnaires (health, speech, hearing aids, tinnitus and quality of life related). The analysis focused specifically on correlations detection between demographics, audiometric tests and questionnaires in order to classify patients into subsets. Conclusion: The present clinical database should be seen as a starting point for other BEAR work packages. We believe that such large variety of data generated will lead to a more comprehensive picture of the hearing-aid user and will bring benefits to both clinicians and manufacturers. Indeed, this first step represents the baseline against which new fitting strategies will be tested. Alternatively, clinically relevant subpopulations with low hearing-aid benefit will be identified and studied to tentatively bring alternatives in rehabilitation. |
Wolff, Anne; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass; Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Narne, Vijay; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Gaihede, Michael; Loquet, Gérard; Hammershøi, Dorte Dansk Selskab for Otorhinolaryngologi, Hoved- & Halskirurgi, årsmøde 25-26 april 2019, 2019. @conference{DSOHH2019, title = {Self-reported Health-related Quality of Life in a cohort of Danish adults with hearing impairment before and after hearing-aid rehabilitation}, author = {Anne Wolff and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Vijay Narne and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Michael Gaihede and Gérard Loquet and Dorte Hammershøi}, url = {http://dsohh.dk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Program_%C3%A5rsm%C3%B8de2019-1.pdf}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-04-26}, booktitle = {Dansk Selskab for Otorhinolaryngologi, Hoved- & Halskirurgi, årsmøde 25-26 april 2019}, abstract = {Introduction: The 15-Dimension instrument (15D) is a standardized, self-administered, generic questionnaire that provides a profile (D1-15 score) and a single index score (D15-score) as a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) on a scale with a range between zero and one. Moreover, this questionnaire includes a question related to hearing (D3). When completed before and after hearing aid (HA) treatment, this questionnaire assesses the potential benefits of HA treatment on HRQoL. Method: Prospective clinical trial with HA treatment as intervention. The data were collected by means of self-reported questionnaires (15D and a basic health-related questionnaire) before and two months following HA-fitting. The study population (n=1536) comprised of both first time HA users (n=1096) and experienced HA users (n=440) enrolled in the multicenter better hearing rehabilitation (BEAR) project. Results: HA treatment resulted in improved mean score of D3 for both new (∆D3: mean, SD (0.102; 0.19) and experienced (∆D3: mean, SD (0.083; 0.20) HA users following 2 months of HA use. Patients with both “moderate to severe” and “severe” hearing loss, defined by the GBD hearing impairment classification, experienced a significant improvement in D3. Discussion: The study supports that HA usage has a positive effect on HRQoL and that HA treatment results in improved HRQoL when looking at the hearing dimension. Degree of hearing loss alone does not explain the positive effect observed. Therefore, additional parameters need to be studied in order to explain which factors are essential for patients with HL to be able to achieve an improvement of HRQoL following HA-fitting.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } Introduction: The 15-Dimension instrument (15D) is a standardized, self-administered, generic questionnaire that provides a profile (D1-15 score) and a single index score (D15-score) as a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) on a scale with a range between zero and one. Moreover, this questionnaire includes a question related to hearing (D3). When completed before and after hearing aid (HA) treatment, this questionnaire assesses the potential benefits of HA treatment on HRQoL. Method: Prospective clinical trial with HA treatment as intervention. The data were collected by means of self-reported questionnaires (15D and a basic health-related questionnaire) before and two months following HA-fitting. The study population (n=1536) comprised of both first time HA users (n=1096) and experienced HA users (n=440) enrolled in the multicenter better hearing rehabilitation (BEAR) project. Results: HA treatment resulted in improved mean score of D3 for both new (∆D3: mean, SD (0.102; 0.19) and experienced (∆D3: mean, SD (0.083; 0.20) HA users following 2 months of HA use. Patients with both “moderate to severe” and “severe” hearing loss, defined by the GBD hearing impairment classification, experienced a significant improvement in D3. Discussion: The study supports that HA usage has a positive effect on HRQoL and that HA treatment results in improved HRQoL when looking at the hearing dimension. Degree of hearing loss alone does not explain the positive effect observed. Therefore, additional parameters need to be studied in order to explain which factors are essential for patients with HL to be able to achieve an improvement of HRQoL following HA-fitting. |
Wolff, Anne; Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Loquet, Gérard; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass; Narne, Vijay; Gaihede, Michael; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Hammershøi, Dorte Annual midwinter meeting in the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (Book of Abstracts), 42 (PD 163), 2019. @conference{ARO2019, title = {The Better Hearing Rehabilitation (BEAR) Study in Denmark. Study Population Characteristics and Perspectives}, author = {Anne Wolff and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Gérard Loquet and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Vijay Narne and Michael Gaihede and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Dorte Hammershøi}, url = {https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.aro.org/resource/resmgr/mwm2019/2019_aro_mwm_abstracts_final.pdf}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-02-13}, booktitle = {Annual midwinter meeting in the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (Book of Abstracts)}, volume = {42}, number = {PD 163}, pages = {719}, abstract = {A recent report from WHO noted that 360 million people in the world have hearing loss. Despite efforts to provide hearing aids (HA) to people in need, hearing loss remains an unmet need. In Denmark, for example, 20% of HA owners do not use their HA regularly which results in wasted clinical resources and a lack of rehabilitation. To improve the treatment, we propose to revise diagnostic techniques and HA fitting practices based on individual hearing profiles, set of expectations, and lifestyles. To achieve this, a cooperative project “BEAR” has been launched between three national universities, three hospitals, and the HA industry in Denmark. This resulted in the building of a database of over 30,000 patient records, collected by two audiologic departments (Aalborg and Odense, Denmark), from January 2017 until April 2018 from 1,963 hearing impaired patients. Data obtained describe procedures which are currently used in clinical audiology across Denmark and allow to explore which measures are available for each patient and what type of HA fitting they have received. Records consisted of audiometric data (air and bone conduction, uncomfortable levels, speech reception thresholds speech discrimination scores, stapedius reflex and tympanometry, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory), quality of life evaluation using questionnaires (health related quality of life [15-D], Health Related Questionnaires, Charlson Comorbidity Index), HA outcome measures using questionnaires (Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale [SSQ-12], International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids [IOI-HA]) and HA fitting data (HA types, log data, fitting rationale and real-ear measurements). The database has a gender ratio of 126 males for 100 females, a mean age at 67 years (range from 19 to 100 years) and a mean hearing threshold in the better hearing ear of 40 dB HL (four frequencies average). 71.9 percent of the patients are first time HA users, as against 28.1 percent for patients with previous HA experience. Preliminary analyses show on average significant improvement in hearing abilities with HA (from IOI-HA and SSQ-12). However, substantial number of participants (18%) did not derive enough benefit from HA. Further analysis will be directed towards finding the possible reasons and grouping the participants based on HA benefit, demographic and audiological data. This will enable us to identify the areas, among contemporary standard examinations and hearing fitting strategies, which would be relevant to explore, change or further develop to provide a better HA fitting and thereby a greater user satisfaction.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } A recent report from WHO noted that 360 million people in the world have hearing loss. Despite efforts to provide hearing aids (HA) to people in need, hearing loss remains an unmet need. In Denmark, for example, 20% of HA owners do not use their HA regularly which results in wasted clinical resources and a lack of rehabilitation. To improve the treatment, we propose to revise diagnostic techniques and HA fitting practices based on individual hearing profiles, set of expectations, and lifestyles. To achieve this, a cooperative project “BEAR” has been launched between three national universities, three hospitals, and the HA industry in Denmark. This resulted in the building of a database of over 30,000 patient records, collected by two audiologic departments (Aalborg and Odense, Denmark), from January 2017 until April 2018 from 1,963 hearing impaired patients. Data obtained describe procedures which are currently used in clinical audiology across Denmark and allow to explore which measures are available for each patient and what type of HA fitting they have received. Records consisted of audiometric data (air and bone conduction, uncomfortable levels, speech reception thresholds speech discrimination scores, stapedius reflex and tympanometry, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory), quality of life evaluation using questionnaires (health related quality of life [15-D], Health Related Questionnaires, Charlson Comorbidity Index), HA outcome measures using questionnaires (Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale [SSQ-12], International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids [IOI-HA]) and HA fitting data (HA types, log data, fitting rationale and real-ear measurements). The database has a gender ratio of 126 males for 100 females, a mean age at 67 years (range from 19 to 100 years) and a mean hearing threshold in the better hearing ear of 40 dB HL (four frequencies average). 71.9 percent of the patients are first time HA users, as against 28.1 percent for patients with previous HA experience. Preliminary analyses show on average significant improvement in hearing abilities with HA (from IOI-HA and SSQ-12). However, substantial number of participants (18%) did not derive enough benefit from HA. Further analysis will be directed towards finding the possible reasons and grouping the participants based on HA benefit, demographic and audiological data. This will enable us to identify the areas, among contemporary standard examinations and hearing fitting strategies, which would be relevant to explore, change or further develop to provide a better HA fitting and thereby a greater user satisfaction. |
2018 |
Wolff, Anne; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass; Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Gaihede, Michael; Godballe, Christian; Hammershøi, Dorte The Better Hearing Rehabilitation (BEAR) study in Denmark. Population characteristics of the hearing aid user and benefits of hearing aid treatment in the current program of hearing rehabilitation Conference Presentation at the Nordic Audiological Society, Harpa, Iceland, 6-8 June 2018., 2018. @conference{NAS2018, title = {The Better Hearing Rehabilitation (BEAR) study in Denmark. Population characteristics of the hearing aid user and benefits of hearing aid treatment in the current program of hearing rehabilitation}, author = {Anne Wolff and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Michael Gaihede and Christian Godballe and Dorte Hammershøi}, year = {2018}, date = {2018-06-06}, booktitle = {Presentation at the Nordic Audiological Society, Harpa, Iceland, 6-8 June 2018.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } |
2017 |
Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Wolff, Anne; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Hammershøi, Dorte; Godballe, Christian; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass BEAR: A status on population characteristics of hearing-aid users obtained from the database Conference ISAAR 2017 Adaptive Processes in Hearing, (P.20), 2017. @conference{SabinaISAAR2017, title = {BEAR: A status on population characteristics of hearing-aid users obtained from the database}, author = {Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Anne Wolff and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Dorte Hammershøi and Christian Godballe and Jesper Hvass Schmidt}, year = {2017}, date = {2017-08-23}, booktitle = {ISAAR 2017 Adaptive Processes in Hearing}, number = {P.20}, pages = {126}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } |
Wolff, Anne; Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Gaihede, Michael; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Schmidt, Jesper Hvass; Hammershøi, Dorte Predictive factors for successful hearing aid treatment with special focus on health related quality of life and asymmetric hearing Conference XIV Årsmøde i Dansk Selskab for Otorhinolaryngologi, Hoved- & Halskirurgi, Nyborg, Danmark, 2017. @conference{DSOHH2017, title = {Predictive factors for successful hearing aid treatment with special focus on health related quality of life and asymmetric hearing}, author = {Anne Wolff and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Michael Gaihede and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Jesper Hvass Schmidt and Dorte Hammershøi}, year = {2017}, date = {2017-04-20}, booktitle = {XIV Årsmøde i Dansk Selskab for Otorhinolaryngologi, Hoved- & Halskirurgi, Nyborg, Danmark}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } |
Wolff, Anne; Houmøller, Sabina Storbjerg; Gaihede, Michael; Hougaard, Dan Dupont; Hammershøi, Dorte National Better hEAring Rehabilitation (BEAR) project: A status on the database with special focus on patients’ motivation on hearing aid treatment Conference ISAAR 2017 Adaptive Processes in Hearing, (P.55), 2017. @conference{AnneISAAR2017, title = {National Better hEAring Rehabilitation (BEAR) project: A status on the database with special focus on patients’ motivation on hearing aid treatment}, author = {Anne Wolff and Sabina Storbjerg Houmøller and Michael Gaihede and Dan Dupont Hougaard and Dorte Hammershøi}, year = {2017}, date = {2017-01-01}, booktitle = {ISAAR 2017 Adaptive Processes in Hearing}, number = {P.55}, pages = {196}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } |
University Hospitals
Odense University Hospital
Rikke Schnack-Petersen
rikke.schnack-petersen@rsyd.dk
Aalborg University Hospital
Michael Gaihede
mlg@rn.dk
Copenhagen University Hospital
Jesper Borchorst Yde
jesper.borchorst.yde.01@regionh.dk
Academia
University of Southen Denmark
Jesper Hvass Schmidt
jesper.schmidt@rsyd.dk
Aalborg University
Dorte Hammershøi
dh@es.aau.dk
Technical University of Denmark
Torsten Dau
tdau@dtu.dk
Tech Service
Industry
Oticon
Karen Wibling Solgård
kaws@oticon.dk
GN Resound
Nikolai Bisgaard
nbisgaard@gnresound.com
WSAudiology
Filip Marchman Rønne
filip.roenne@wsa.com
