Does bilateral hearing aid fitting improve spatial hearing ability: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The ability to localize sound sources is crucial for everyday listening, as it contributes to spatial awareness and the detection of warning signs. Individuals with hearing impairment have poorer localization abilities, which further deteriorate when they are fitted with a hearing aid. Although numerous studies have addressed this phenomenon, there is a lack of systematic evidence. The aim of the current systematic review is to address the following research question, "Do behavioural measures of spatial hearing ability improve with bilateral hearing aid fitting compared to the unaided hearing condition?"