Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Hearing aids: expectations and satisfaction of people with an intellectual disability, a descriptive pilot study
A Meuwese-Jongejeugd1, H Verschuure, H M Evenhuis
1Intellectual Disability Medicine, Department of General Practice, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Background:
In spite of an increased risk of hearing impairment in persons with an intellectual disability (ID), rehabilitation with hearing aids often fails. We performed a descriptive pilot study with the following study questions: 1 Do comparable elements as in the general population contribute to expectations of and satisfaction with hearing aids in adults with mild or moderate IDs? 2 To what extent do adults with an ID depend on carers in use and maintenance of hearing aids?
Study Population:
16 adults with a mild or moderate ID and a recent diagnosis of hearing impairment. Method: information by means of specially designed booklets; semi-structured interviews prior to hearing aid fitting and 6 months afterwards.
Analysis:
descriptive.
Results:
In total, 14/16 participants were able to give reliable answers. Most were aware of their hearing loss and familiar with reasons for hearing aids. A minority expressed positive expectations. Some expressed explicit wishes on the looks of hearing aids. All satisfaction domains as described for the general population could be recognized. Most participants were partially or totally dependent on carers in use and maintenance of hearing aids.
Conclusions:
Adults with ID may have explicit ideas and wishes about hearing aids and, if specifically asked, are capable of expressing these. Given information should be checked and repeated. In satisfaction with hearing aids, comparable elements may play a role as in the general population: benefit, cosmetics, sound quality/acoustics, comfort/ease of use, and service delivery. These findings, however, are from a small-scale study. Additional research is necessary to find out whether they are applicable more generally.
