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Social Perceptions of Pediatric Hearing Aids
Z Jason Qian1, Brian A Nuyen1, Cherian K Kandathil1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, U.S.A.
Hearing aids (HAs) negatively impact social perceptions of children and adults, reducing perceived athleticism and popularity. Increased societal representation of pediatric HAs is crucial for inclusivity.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Social Psychology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Hearing aid (HA) use can influence social perceptions.
- Societal representation of pediatric HAs is limited, potentially affecting attitudes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of HA use on social perceptions in adults and children.
- To determine if societal representation of pediatric HAs modulates these effects.
Main Methods:
- Six photographic conditions of a child with and without HAs and eyeglasses were presented to 206 adults and 202 children.
- Web-based surveys with visual analog scales captured social perceptions.
- Data were analyzed using two-tailed t-tests.
Main Results:
- HAs were associated with decreased perceptions of athleticism, confidence, health, leadership, and popularity in both age groups.
- Eyeglasses were linked to increased intelligence and success, but decreased athleticism and popularity.
- Brightly colored HAs mitigated the positive effects of eyeglasses when worn together.
Conclusions:
- Negative social perceptions associated with pediatric HAs may stem from poor societal representation.
- Enhanced societal representation of pediatric HAs is essential for fostering inclusivity for children with hearing loss.
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