Examining the Relationship between Listening Effort and the Pursuit of Hearing Loss Treatment
- Presenter
- Sarah Yoon
- Campus
- UMass Amherst
- Sponsor
- Sara Mamo, Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, UMass Amherst
- Schedule
- Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]
- Location
- Poster Board C24, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 3 (C21-C30) [Poster Location Map]
- Abstract
Many adults with age-related hearing loss could benefit from the use of hearing amplification but do not pursue treatment. In a previous study at the UMass Healthy Hearing Lab, adults (n = 30; ages 45-63) were surveyed multiple times throughout their day to assess listening difficulty in a variety of situations. Even the adults who reported high amounts of listening effort expressed a reluctance to seek amplification.
Statistically, adults 65 years and older are more likely to use hearing aids than adults ages 45-64. The current study will recruit a sample of older adult participants (n = 10; ages 65+) to understand age differences and identify contextual and physiological factors affecting willingness to address hearing concerns. Participants will complete a recurring survey for one week to document factors influencing their decision to seek, or not to seek, treatment. Following this period, participants will complete a qualitative interview to discuss and expand upon their survey responses. The survey data will then be analyzed and key concepts from each interview will be categorized to identify patterns of responses.
At the end of this study, we anticipate that we will better understand the reasons why adults are reluctant to seek treatment for their hearing loss. This will contribute useful insight for the broader field of audiology, as it will provide a baseline of knowledge that audiologists can reference to personalize effective and realistic intervention plans designed to encourage individuals to pursue hearing-related treatment.
- Keywords
- Audiology, Public Health, Age-Related Hearing Loss
- Research Area
- Public Health and Epidemiology
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