Hearing aid use and benefit and uptake of aural rehabilitation services by New Zealand hearing aid wearers.
OBJECTIVE
To provide the first extensive survey in New Zealand of hearing aid use and benefit and the accessibility of Hearing Association services.


METHODS
A mail-out questionnaire was used to survey 197 Auckland adult hearing aid wearers regarding patterns of hearing aid use and benefit and the accessibility of Hearing Association aural rehabilitation services.


RESULTS
Hearing aid benefit was moderate and was not related to age or hearing aid use variables. Knowledge and usage of local rehabilitation services was limited. Perceived functions of the Hearing Association included adult audiometry and counselling. Respondents wanted assistance with hearing aid management and assistive listening devices. Physical access, financial and time constraints were seen as barriers to using rehabilitative services.


CONCLUSIONS
It appears that there is not a simple relationship between perceived benefit or satisfaction and the amount of time people wear their hearing aids. The low level of awareness and participation in Hearing Association services is consistent with the underutilisation of such services found previously.
Jerram
J C
JC
Department of Physiology, University of Auckland School of Medicine.
Purdy
S C
SC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires