The Relationship Between Hearing Aid Use and Quality of Life in Children with Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

Background: Hearing loss in children is a common condition that may negatively affect speech and language development, academic performance, social interaction, and emotional well-being. Early intervention with hearing aids is widely recommended to improve auditory function and support communication development. However, the extent to which hearing aid use influences the quality of life of children with hearing loss remains unclear. Objective: To determine the relationship between hearing aid use and quality of life in children with hearing loss based on the Hearing Environments and Reflection on Quality of Life (HEAR-QL) questionnaire. Methods: A systematic review of observational studies was conducted using multiple electronic databases. Study selection was performed according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using appropriate risk-of-bias assessment tools. Results: A total of 1,761 studies were identified through database searching. Following screening and eligibility assessment, two studies met the inclusion criteria. Both studies reported that children with hearing loss had lower quality-of-life scores than children with normal hearing. Hearing aid use was associated with improved quality-of-life scores; however, these scores remained lower than those observed among children with normal hearing. Conclusion: Hearing aid use is associated with improved quality of life in children with hearing loss. Nevertheless, the quality of life of children using hearing aids remains lower than that of their normal-hearing peers, highlighting the need for comprehensive rehabilitation and ongoing support.