Motivation to Address Self-Reported Hearing Problems in Adults With Normal Hearing Thresholds

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Psychology

Background:

• Self-reported hearing problems can significantly impact an individual's quality of life.
• Understanding the motivation to change is crucial for effective hearing rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the motivation to change for hearing problems in adults with normal hearing who self-report issues versus those with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss.
• To identify factors influencing motivation to address hearing difficulties.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) to measure motivation to change.
• Compared motivation levels between two groups: normal hearing with self-reported problems and mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
• Examined relationships between objective/subjective measures and motivation.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in hearing handicap levels between groups.
• Hearing handicap, personal distress, and minimization of hearing loss were significant predictors of motivation.
• Age, hearing loss degree, speech-in-noise, working memory, and high-frequency thresholds were not significant predictors.

Conclusions:

• Adults with normal hearing and self-reported hearing problems demonstrate similar motivation to change as adults with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss.
• Hearing handicap, personal distress, and minimization are key factors influencing an individual's motivation to seek hearing solutions.