1. Welsh Hearing Institute, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales.
2. MRC Institute of Hearing Research, University Park, Nottingham.

In the 1980s and early 1990s we conducted four population studies on the acceptability of hearing aid intervention in the 50-65 age group (Stephens et al; 1990, Stephens and Meredith, 1991; Davis et al, 1992). Within those studies we screened all individuals within this age group registered with groups of General Practitioners (Primary Physicians) and offered hearing aid intervention to those with a hearing loss exceeding 30 dB in their worse hearing ear. The majority of such individuals accepted hearing aids, and the use of hearing aids within these four populations increased three-fold. As part of the National Health Service Health Technology project on the acceptability, benefits, costs and early screening for hearing disability, we have endeavoured to contact as many as possible of these individuals, who accepted or refused hearing aids at that time, to determine how many were still using hearing aids. At the present time, 47% of those fitted in the studies are still using their hearing aids. Approximately twice as many males fitted as females were still using their aids (56% vs 30%). Those using their aids had significantly worse hearing than those not using them. Neither hearing levels nor measures of Activity Limitation nor Participation Restriction at the time of fitting predicted which subjects would continue to use their aids.