Date

5-23-2025

Department

School of Health Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences (PhD)

Chair

Kala Dixon

Keywords

hearing aid, aural rehabilitation, hearing loss, counseling, education

Disciplines

Communication Sciences and Disorders | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Hearing aids are a vital intervention for managing hearing loss, yet their adoption remains disproportionately low across age groups. Only 30% of adults aged 70 and older and a mere 16% of adults aged 20 to 69 who could benefit from hearing aids report ever using them. This study explored whether counseling and education, within the framework of aural rehabilitation therapy (ART), could improve hearing aid satisfaction and usage rates. Participants with mild-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss were evaluated using the Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life (SADL) questionnaire, which was administered during hearing aid fittings to gauge the effectiveness of ART. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the Global score results between two groups revealed that ART may not play a significant role in enhancing hearing aid satisfaction or promoting sustained usage. These findings suggest that the emphasis traditionally placed on ART, as a cornerstone of aural rehabilitation, may need to be reconsidered. While ART may still offer value for specific populations or in addressing certain barriers, its universal necessity appears limited based on these results. This study underscores the need for alternative strategies to address the multifaceted challenges associated with hearing aid adoption. Future research should explore factors such as stigma, cost, and technological usability, which may have a greater impact on improving hearing aid adoption and satisfaction rates. These findings pave the way for a more nuanced understanding of the barriers to hearing aid use and the potential for tailored interventions.

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