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Impact of using earphones for older people in Chile

Abstract:

This paper studies the user satisfaction of a representative sample of urban elderly who receive hearing aids via the GES program (Explicit Health Guarantees). We used the operational construct of the Health Ministry of Chile, MINSAL clinical guideline No. 56 of 2007, named "Bilateral hearing loss in people of 65 years and older who require earphones", and that defines the items to be evaluated. The so-called "International Survey of Use of Earphones CIRUA" was applied. The sample considered in the study was defined as elderly people who have used the device for more than one year since its delivery. Finally, elderly people value the fact of receiving their hearing aids, recognize its usefulness, and appreciate how it has changed their life and their normal routines. They also indicate that falls have reduced falls and indicate that they have at present a better quality of life.