Attitude to Hearing Diffculty and Hearing Aids and the Outcome of Audiological Rehabilitation

Abstract

First time hearing aid candidates (N = 135) in a NHS setting were administered the Hearing Attitudes in Rehabilitation Questionnaire (HARQ) designed to assess attitudes to acquired hearing loss and hearing aids and 92% of them were followed up 3-9 months after fitting. Attitude scores, age, sex and sensory thresholds were related to six self-report outcome measures by use of logistic regression. The major findings were that patients who were least distressed by their hearing difficulties and reported not wanting or needing a hearing aid used their aids least frequently and evaluated them less highly in listening situations. An attitude that wearing a hearing aid was stigmatizing was not predictive of outcome except a report of more difficulty in handling the aid. There were some low but significant correlations between attitudes and sensory thresholds and thresholds also contributed to the prediction of outcome in a few instances.

Hearing Aid Satisfaction: What Does Research from the Past 20 Years Say?

“…Studies that have investigated gender effects have mostly found none (Hickson et al, 1999;Jerram and Purdy, 2001). Female participants were slightly more satisfied than male participants in the study by Brooks and Hallam (1998).Besides age and gender, other demographic characteristics, such as whether living alone or with others and socioeconomic status, have not been found to be related to satisfaction (Gatehouse, 1994;Norman et al, 1994;Hickson et al, 1999;Jerram and Purdy, 2001).In summary, age, gender and other demographic data exhibit no impact or minimal effect on satisfaction. …”

“…• Participants have various degrees of loss but direct comparison cannot be made across studies as some studies have reported average hearing level only (ie, Gatehouse, 1994;Brooks and Hallam, 1998), and some reported hearing in the better ear (eg, Brooks and Hallam, 1998;Purdy and Jerram, 1998 Scales set a priori, not evaluated for validity …”

“…Benefit can be measured at one point in time or on a subtractive basis-the differential scores obtained prefitting and postfitting. Significant correlations of .50 to .83 (P < .05) between self-report benefit and satisfaction have been noted in most studies (Dillon et al, 1991b;Sinclair and Goldstein, 1991;Gatehouse, 1994;Norman et al, 1994;Brooks and Hallam, 1998). Jerram (1998), andSpitzer (1998) found weaker correlations (r < .31, Ps < .05).…”

“…Thus, attitude towards hearing aids and personality appear to have small but significant effects on satisfaction. (Brooks, 1985;Brooks, 1990; Gatehouse,1994;Norman et al, 1994;Dillon et al, 1997;Stock et al, 1997;Brooks and Hallam, 1998;Purdy and Jerram, 1998;Dillon et al, 1999;Jerram and Purdy, 2001). Dillon et al (1991b) found that satisfaction correlated more highly with aid use (r = .66, P < .05) than a range of other measures such as aid benefit, aid problems, and service satisfaction.…”

Holistic Aural Rehabilitation: a Challenge

“…There is a growing awareness in audiological practice that attention to technical matters alone may miss the point as far as the individual's needs and social circumstances are concerned (Noble 1996, Brooks 1990, Falkenberg & Antonsen 1997, Brooks & Hallam 1998, Antonsen 2001. For instance, the fact is neglected that the educational audiologist is a necessary part of the audiological team (Lippestad 1994, Tesch-Rö mer 1996, Hétu 1996, Lippestad & Natvig Aas 1997, Gundersen & Lippestad 2000, Norwegian Board of Health 2000, Antonsen 2001).…”