The Possibility and Extent of Vestibular Stimulation during Hearing Aid Use in Moderate to Profound Hearing Loss

Abstract

Hearing loss affects 1.5 billion people worldwide. It results from various causes affecting the ear and nervous system, impacting daily life and communication. Rehabilitation options include hearing aids, cochlear implants, and communication strategies. Improperly fitted aids may harm hearing, while prolonged high sound exposure could damage the vestibular system, a system essential for balance. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate whether or not hearing aids stimulate the vestibular system. The study examined vestibular system’s stimulation with hearing aids in 24 participants with sensorineural hearing loss. Various behavioral and electrophysiological tests were conducted under different hearing aid conditions. Vestibular assessments included sensitive Romberg, Fukuda stepping, cVEMP, and oVEMP in multiple conditions. Different amplification conditions had a detrimental effect on balance and postural stability during behavioral and physiological balance assessment tests. The relationship between PTA and balance performance varied depending on the type of amplification and the intensity of white noise. No significant correlations between PTA and cVEMPs and oVEMPs could be established. The present study highlights the relationship between hearing loss, amplification, and vestibular function and shows that balance may be affected in severe-to-profound hearing loss despite a control of output intensity by the way of non-linear programming.