Priority 2 from the Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss PSP

UNCERTAINTY: Does the early fitting of hearing aids result in increased patient benefit and/or improved cost-effectiveness of the service for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss? (JLA PSP Priority 2)
Overall ranking	2
JLA question ID	0033/2
Explanatory note	Not available for this PSP
Evidence	To follow
Health Research Classification System category	Ear

Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples	More evidence to support the earlier you fit hearing aids to these losses the greater the benefit, easier people adapt etc. and hence surely less cost to the services long term ~ How effective are hearing aids as an early intervention in hearing loss ~ How effective are hearing aids as an early intervention for hearing loss? ~ Does having a hearing aid at an early stage help the long term prognosis? ~ Is there well documented research into the most appropriate stage for the introduction and usage of hearing aids? We know that the sooner babies/small children receive cochlear implants, the better the outcome. What does evidence show about acquired hearing loss and the use of hearing aids? ~ How early can hearing aids be issued beneficially? ~ Does treating early hearing loss with a hearing aid alter the progress of the hearing loss? ~ Does treating early hearing loss with an aid alter the social confidence of the deaf person?
Submitted by	Service users x 5, Clinicians x 3, Others x 0
Outcomes to be measured	Level of patient benefit and cost effectiveness of the service/Improved long term prognosis/Change in level of social confidence

PSP information
PSP unique ID	0033
PSP name	Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP.	87 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop	3 September 2015