A Review of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Model of Hearing Aid Fitting

A Review of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Model of Hearing Aid Fitting

Purpose: Although many previous literatures investigated various outcomes of hearing aid fitting, a few studies explored the cost-effectiveness of hearing aid fitting and its underlying model. Examining cost effectiveness of hearing aid fitting provides comparative values of hearing aid fitting by measuring the economic gains of hearing aid interventions. The purpose of present study is to understand the cost-related outcomes and benefits of hearing aid uses and provide economic insights of hearing aid interventions. Methods: The study reviewed several literatures related to cost-effectiveness of hearing aid fitting as well as relevant services. In addition, the study proposed an adopted economic model as a future reference of hearing aid fitting in South Korea. Results: There were a few studies evaluating cost-effectiveness of hearing aid fitting and the overall results supported a considerable success with incremental cost-effectiveness of hearing aid intervention. A dynamic patient flow model is particularly useful to simulate ongoing decision problems in the use of hearing aids and to estimate cost-effectiveness of hearing aid intervention. Conclusion: The patient flow model proposed in this study involves various possible transitions of people with hearing complaints in South Korea and it applies to the measurement of cost benefits of hearing aid fitting.