Hearing Aid Use and Audiology Services in Times of Prolonged Crisis

Background Individuals with hearing impairments face significant challenges during crises, particularly in accessing emergency alerts and maintaining communication, but little is known about the impact of prolonged crises on hearing aid usage. Objectives The aim of the study was to examine changes in hearing aid usage and concerns related to hearing emergency alerts among adults with hearing impairment during the October 7 war in Israel. Methods 847 hearing aid users (85.4% aged ≥ 60 years), 80% with at least moderate hearing difficulty participated in a survey. Results Changes in hearing aid use during the war were characterized with increased hearing aid usage and changes in usage patterns such as more frequent sleeping or showering with the devices. Fear of missing missile sirens was prevalent, with over 25% expressing concerns and 10% frequently failing to hear alarms. Despite regional differences in attack frequency, changes in hearing aid use were not correlated with place of residence, suggesting that psychological stress, rather than direct exposure, influenced behaviour. Notably, 75% of participants recognized remote hearing aid tuning as essential. Conclusions The study highlights the role of hearing aids in crisis situations, emphasizing the need for preparedness and integrating audiological support into emergency plans. In response, the HIMIC (Hearing Instruments Management in Crisis) guidelines for individual (HIMIC-I) and for public health (HIMIC-P) preparedness and hearing care, were developed to ensure device functionality, user preparedness and public services during major crisis, such as war times, pandemic, and environmental disasters. These recommendations address device selection, emergency planning, and usage in extreme conditions as well as preparedness of hearing clinics, human resources considerations, training, emergency inventory and establishing responsibilities. Ensuring access to remote audiological services and promoting proactive hearing aid preparedness can enhance safety and well-being for individuals with hearing impairment during prolonged crises.