ESS - DM - Mestrado Europeu em Tecnologia Médica e Negócios em Saúde
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- The evolving landscape of hearing healthcare: Hearing health professional´s opinions and the impact of Over-the-Counter Hearing AidsPublication . Amjad, Muhammad Saad; Tomé, DavidHearing loss is a pervasive global health challenge, with traditional prescription hearing aids often inaccessible due to high costs, social stigma, and limited availability. The emergence of Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids aims to bridge this gap by offering more affordable and accessible solutions for individuals with mild to moderate hearing impairment. However, it’s real-world effectiveness and integration into existing healthcare frameworks, mainly from the perspective of healthcare professionals, remain underexplored. This thesis study investigated the perceptions and opinion of 177 hearing healthcare professionals (HHPs), including audiologists and hearing aid dispensers, across 17 countries through a comprehensive online survey. The research assessed their views on the effectiveness, accessibility, and potential impact of OTC hearing aids on clinical practice. Findings revealed a polarized professional sentiment: while many acknowledged the benefits of increased affordability and accessibility, a predominant negative outlook highlighted significant concerns regarding potential misdiagnosis, improper fitting, patient dissatisfaction, and the economic implications for professionals. Notably, professional background, rather than age or experience, significantly influenced these perceptions. A gender-based disparity in regulatory awareness was also observed. In conclusion, while OTC hearing aids hold substantial promise for expanding access to hearing care, their successful implementation requires robust regulatory oversight, extensive public education on proper use and limitations, and proactive professional engagement. Hearing healthcare professionals are encouraged to adapt their service models to effectively support OTC users, thereby ensuring both broader accessibility and the maintenance of quality care standards.