Graduation Year
2000
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Au.D.
Degree Granting Department
Audiology
Major Professor
Harvey B. Abrams
Committee Member
Theresa Hnath-Chisolm
Committee Member
Jennifer J. Lister
Keywords
COSI, VANHAP, subjective outcome measures, hearing aids
Abstract
In the present health care environment, there is an increased demand for audiologists to measure the outcomes of hearing aid intervention. In addition to the more traditional objective outcome measures, many subjective outcome measures have been developed in the last 20 years. Two such subjective outcome measures are the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE). These instruments consist of a series of pre-selected questions that may or may not be applicable to an individual. An alternative to the pre-selected question format is an open format design that allows the person with a hearing loss to designate areas of concern to them. One subjective outcome measure that uses this format is the Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI) developed by Dillon and his colleagues in Australia. The COSI has been validated and may be useful for oversight with multi-clinician or for multi-clinic systems. The purpose of this study was to address tthe potential of the COSI for such oversight. Specifically, the study examined the inter-observer agreement of the classification of individually identified situations into general categories. The study also re-examined the clinical utility of the COSI as an outcome measure in individual hearing aid fittings. The results demonstrated very good inter-observer agreement for the classification of individually identified situations. In addition, the study supported the usefulness as a clinical outcome measure that had been found by Dillon and his colleagues in Australia. These results indicate that the COSI has potential for oversight of the outcomes of hearing aid intervention in hearing aid delivery organizations.
Scholar Commons Citation
Zelski, Robert F., "Use of the Client Oriented Scale of Improvement as a Clinical Outcome Measure in the Veterans Affairs National Hearing Aid Program" (2000). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/1550
