Satisfactory User
A classification in hearing aid outcome research denoting a patient who wears and benefits from their device consistently, meeting pre-defined criteria for usage hours and self-reported satisfaction.
Full Definition
The term 'satisfactory user' is employed in clinical audiology to distinguish patients who successfully adopt hearing technology from those who are inconsistent or non-users. Criteria for classification typically include a minimum number of daily usage hours (often four or more), a benefit score above a defined threshold on a validated outcome measure, and absence of clinically significant complaints. The term has been operationalised differently across studies, so editors must check each source for its specific definition. It should not be taken as an informal or colloquial compliment; in a clinical document it carries a precise, operationally defined meaning.
Usage
Usage note: Do not substitute 'satisfied user'; satisfaction and satisfactory use are measured separately in audiology outcome frameworks.
In Context
- "At the six-month follow-up, 73% of participants were classified as satisfactory users based on datalogging hours and SADL scores." — Clinical outcomes research paper
- "The protocol defines a satisfactory user as one who wears the device for at least four hours daily and reports a benefit score above the minimal clinically important difference." — Clinical trial methodology section