title: Factors Influencing Hearing Aid Use in the Classroom: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study examined factors influencing classroom hearing aid use in school-age children with hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research team visited classrooms of 38 children with mild-to-moderate hearing loss (Grades 1-7) on 2 typical school days, twice per day, to document hearing aid use. In addition, parents reported the number of hours their children used hearing aids at school.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 24% of children were observed not wearing their hearing aids in the classroom on either observation day. Both grade level and degree of hearing loss appeared to affect hearing aid use. Children in Grades 5-7 and those with milder hearing losses were less likely to wear hearing aids. Overall, parents accurately reported classroom hearing aid use; however, those with children in Grades 5-7 were less accurate than those with children in earlier grades.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results suggest that children with milder hearing loss and those in Grades 5-7 are at increased risk for reduced hearing aid use in the classroom. Also, parents of school-age children in these later grades are less accurate reporters of classroom hearing aid use compared to parents of children in earlier grades.
authors.forename: Samantha J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Benjamin W Y
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Hornsby
authors.forename: Fred H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Bess
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D010290:Parents; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019727:Proxy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012720:Severity of Illness Index