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Updated: Jul 19, 2025
A Test Bed to Examine Helmet Fit and Retention and Biomechanical Measures of Head and Neck Injury in Simulated Impact
Published on: September 21, 2017
Experience of helmet usage among hearing aid users: a cross sectional study
Y Pradeep1, E Sinu2, P Keerthana3
1Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Background:
In India, persons with hearing impairment who benefit from hearing aids can acquire a driving license. The law mandates helmet use while driving two-wheelers. Using a hearing aid with a helmet on may be a challenge, but it is paramount to understand the difficulties the hearing aid users face.
Methods:
A cross-sectional research design was used to study the experience of hearing aid users who ride two-wheelers. A checklist was developed and administered to 15 individuals with hearing impairment who ride two-wheelers. The checklist had 11 questions under three domains; 'Helmet related,' 'Comfort related', and 'Driving/Listening related. The study was carried out in and around Bangalore. The data was collected through the interview method.
Results:
The subjects reported difficulties in the comfort-related and driving/listening-related domains. Many participants felt the need to modify the helmet design to suit hearing aid users. They also felt a need for a special program for driving mode in the hearing aids.
Conclusions:
Hearing-impaired two-wheeler riders face problems in localization, fear of hearing aid falling, and sweating using hearing aids while driving. It affects them on two fronts. One, it may pose a risk to others or the hearing impaired themselves on the road. Second, avoiding riding two-wheelers may limit their rights and mobility.
