The Effects of High Gain Amplification on Children in a Residential School for the Deaf

The audiometric records of 58 children covering an eight- to ten-year span were statistically analyzed to determine if hearing-aid amplification had a deleterious effect on the residual hearing. In 25 cases, the unaided ear served as a control for the aided ear. In the remaining 33 cases, the objective was to statistically select the aided ear. Subjects were also subdivided into those with extrinsic and intrinsic deafness. It was hypothesized that if amplification had an effect on hearing loss over a period of time, it would be apparent through comparison of the aided and unaided ears. The results indicate no differences between ears for subjects during the years of this study.