title: Reasons for referral and attitudes toward hearing aids: do they affect outcome?
abstract: Many patients attending for a hearing aid are not self motivated, but in the majority of cases motivated by a relative. In this study, we have examined whether the reason for referral (self motivated or other) and the attitude toward a hearing aid at assessment affect outcome measures. One hundred and forty first-time hearing aid users were assessed at their initial hearing aid consultation and at review 3 months later. The reason for referral was not found to affect outcome measures. However, attitude towards a hearing aid was found to be significantly related to both satisfaction with it and its use at review. The importance of the attitude toward a hearing aid supports previous work and reiterates the importance of tailoring auditory rehabilitation towards the needs of the individual.
authors.affiliation: Welsh Hearing Institute, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stephens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D016896:Treatment Outcome