The relationship of locus of control, self-control, and acceptable noise levels for young listeners with normal hearing.
OBJECTIVE
Background noise acceptance while listening to speech, assessed via the acceptable noise level (ANL) measure, has been shown to be an accurate predictor of hearing-aid success. No specific listener characteristics have been identified as being related to a listener's ability to accept background noise. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not locus of control and self-control are related to ANL.


METHODS
Correlational design.


METHODS
Participants were seventy young adults (21 male, 49 female; aged 19 to 39 years) with normal hearing. Participants completed psychological profiles that evaluated locus of control and self-control and their ANLs were measured.


RESULTS
Results revealed correlations between ANL and self-control. Listeners with higher levels of self-control accepted more background noise than listeners with lower levels of self-control.


CONCLUSIONS
This research suggests that exercises aimed at strengthening a listener's auditory self-control may lead to improved background noise acceptance. Improvement in background noise acceptance could lead to improved hearing-aid success. Future research should explore these possibilities.
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic, Pensacola, FL, USA. amy.comerford@va.gov
Amy Comerford
AC
Nichols
Susan
S
Gordon-Hickey
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000407:Alabama; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008144:Loudness Perception; D008297:Male; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult