Effects of Hearing Loss and Hearing Aids on the Perception of Natural Sounds and Soundscapes: A Survey of Hearing Care Professional Opinions.

Purpose: The goal was to gain insight into the effects of hearing loss and hearing aids (HAs) on the perception of "natural sounds" and their importance in daily life by documenting the opinions of hearing care professionals (HCPs).

Method: A questionnaire was designed where HCPs were asked to rate their patients' perception of natural sounds before and after receiving an HA. The online survey was conducted with 301 HCPs in France.

Results: According to respondents, the incidence of hearing natural sounds increased substantially at the end of the trial period relative to the start, especially for patients living in remote rural areas. Respondents also indicated an increase in listening accuracy, pleasantness, and importance of natural sounds at the end of the trial period. The majority of respondents indicated (a) that their patients find it important to listen to natural sounds and (b) that they are satisfied with their HAs in that respect.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance of natural sounds for most people with hearing loss. It highlights the effects of HA on patients' awareness of natural sounds and suggests that future research should consider the patients' place of residence.