The Journal

of the American Medical Association in its Oct. 11 issue carried a precedent-setting

article which reported findings from the first carefully controlled, multi-center

clinical trial of hearing aids.

The double-blinded

study was conducted at eight VA medical centers on 360 patients with sensorineural

hearing loss (nerve deafness). Among the key findings were that all three

types of hearing aids used in the study substantially helped users in

both quiet and noisy conditions.

Compared to

the unaided condition, subjects were found to have significantly improved

speech recognition and reduced communication problems, such as interference

from background noise.

"A lot

of people with hearing loss, especially older persons, are told that they

have to learn to live with it, that nothing can be done," said Lucille

Beck, PhD, director of audiology and speech pathology at one VA medical

center. "Primary-care doctors will benefit from knowing that hearing

aids are an effective treatment for many patients, especially those with

mild to moderate hearing loss."