Changes in Psychosocial Measures After a 6-Week Field Trial

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Untreated hearing loss in adults leads to significant psychosocial consequences.
• Many adults with hearing loss do not seek treatment due to stigma or negative attitudes.
• Hearing aids are a potential intervention to mitigate these negative effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a 6-week hearing aid field trial on psychosocial outcomes.
• To assess if hearing aid intervention can reduce the negative consequences of hearing loss in treatment-naïve adults.

Main Methods:

• A 6-week bilateral hearing aid trial was conducted with 24 adults with mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss.
• Participants completed subjective measures of hearing handicap and attitudes before, during, and after the trial.
• A control group followed the same protocol without hearing aid use.

Main Results:

• Hearing aid use for 6 weeks significantly decreased perceived stigma associated with hearing aids.
• Participants reported reduced personal distress and inadequacy stemming from hearing difficulties.
• A significant reduction in overall hearing handicap was observed.

Conclusions:

• A hearing aid trial can positively influence individuals' attitudes toward hearing aid adoption.
• Hearing aid intervention effectively decreases hearing handicap in adults with previously untreated hearing loss.