Late auditory evoked potentials in elderly long-term hearing-aid users with unilateral or bilateral fittings

This study investigated the effects of long-term unilateral and bilateral amplification on central auditory processing in elderly people with symmetrical hearing loss using late auditory evoked potentials. It was hypothesized that in the unilateral setting stimulation of the aided ear would yield an acclimatization effect with larger amplitudes and shorter latencies of the components P1, N1 and P2 compared to those of the unaided ear. Auditory evoked potentials were elicited by 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz pure tones at 55, 70 and 85 dB SPL presentation level delivered either to the left or right ear. Unilaterally and bilaterally fitted experienced hearing-aid users and a control group of normally hearing adults, all aged at least 60 years, participated. The responses of the unilateral hearing-aid users did not differ significantly for any of the components P1, N1 or P2 between the aided and unaided ears, but a significant interaction between ear and frequency was present for P2 amplitudes. P2 amplitudes were significantly smaller for the 0.5- and 1-kHz stimuli and tended to be larger for the 2-kHz stimulus in the aided ear suggesting an acclimatization effect. Larger P2 amplitudes were observed in the unilaterally fitted group, which was interpreted as a correlate of more effortful auditory processing in unilaterally fitted people.