Kruger, M., Pandey, P., Manchaiah, V., & Swanepoel, D.W.
International Hearing Aid Conference (IHCON) at Banff, Alberta, Canada, August 2026.
Publication year: 2026

Background: Digital interventions are increasingly used to support hearing aid users; however, evidence for first-time hearing aid users remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized the efficacy and effectiveness of digital interventions to improve outcomes for first-time hearing aid users. Methods: The review protocol was pre-registered (PROSPERO; CRD420251125785) and conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched in January 2026. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, and quasi-experimental studies evaluating internet-, app-, or web-based interventions for first-time adult hearing aid users. Outcomes were grouped into six domains: 1) hearing aid use, 2) hearing aid benefit and satisfaction, 3) hearing and communication outcomes, 4) knowledge, skills and self-management, 5) speech-in-noise performance, and 6) psychosocial and emotional adjustment. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 and ROBINS-I, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted where at least three randomized trials reported comparable outcomes. Results: Eleven articles representing nine independent trials met the inclusion criteria. Two trials included audiovisual perceptual training, whereas the remaining studies predominantly focused on education, self-management, and counseling, including hearing aid use and maintenance, communication strategies, expectation setting, and psychosocial adjustment. The most consistent 1 IHCON 2026 improvements were observed in knowledge, skills and self-management, with moderate-certainty evidence favoring digital interventions. Evidence for hearing aid use, benefit and satisfaction, hearing and communication outcomes, and psychosocial and emotional adjustment was limited and inconsistent (low-certainty evidence). Evidence for speech-in-noise outcomes was of very low certainty, due to few studies, heterogeneous outcome measures, and risk of bias. Meta-analyses of objectively measured hearing aid use and the IOI-HA outcomes (hearing aid use, satisfaction, and quality of life) showed no significant pooled effects. Conclusions: Digital interventions show the most consistent evidence for improving hearing aid-related knowledge, skills, and self-management among first-time adult hearing aid users, supported by moderate-certainty evidence. Evidence for hearing aid use, benefit and satisfaction, hearing and communication, and psychosocial and emotional adjustment was limited and inconsistent. Clinicians may consider structured digital educational programmes as a complement to standard hearing aid fitting for first-time users. Future research should prioritise larger, pre-registered trials with a broader range of interventions and outcomes with improved standardisation.