Identifying the barriers and facilitators to optimal hearing aid self-efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
Many older adults with hearing impairment are not confident in their ability to use hearing aids (i.e. experience low hearing aid self-efficacy), which has been found to be a barrier to hearing help-seeking and hearing aid use. This study aimed to determine what factors were associated with achieving adequate hearing aid self-efficacy.


METHODS
A retrospective research design was employed wherein hearing aid self-efficacy was the primary outcome. Explanatory variables included personal demographics, visual disability, and experiences related to participants' hearing ability and hearing aids.


METHODS
A total of 307 older adults with hearing impairment participated in the study (147 non hearing aid owners and 160 hearing aid owners).


RESULTS
Non-hearing aid owners were more likely to report adequate hearing aid self-efficacy if they reported no visual disability, had experienced hearing loss for longer, reported more positive support from a significant other, and were not anxious about wearing hearing aids. Hearing aid owners were more likely to report adequate hearing aid self-efficacy if they had had a positive hearing aid experience and no visual disability.


CONCLUSIONS
More research is needed to develop and evaluate intervention approaches that promote optimal levels of hearing aid self-efficacy among older adults with hearing impairment.
* The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre , Australia.
Carly
C
Meyer
Louise
L
Hickson
Amanda
A
Fletcher
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001307:Auditory Perception; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010465:Perception; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology