title: Positive, Neutral, and Negative Connotations Associated with Social Representation of 'Hearing Loss' and 'Hearing Aids'.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In our previous studies we explored the social representation of hearing loss and hearing aids. In this study we aimed at exploring if the positive, neutral and negative connotations associated with the social representation of 'hearing loss' and 'hearing aids' for the same categories vary across countries. In addition, we also looked at if there is an association between connotations and demographic variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 404 individuals from four countries were asked to indicate the words and phrases that comes to mind when they think about 'hearing loss' and 'hearing aids'. They also indicated if the words and phrases they reported had positive, neutral or negative association, which were analyzed and reported in this paper.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are considerable differences among the countries in terms of positive, neutral and negative associations report for each category in relation to hearing loss and hearing aids. However, there is limited connection between demographic variables and connotations reported in different countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggesting that the social representation about the phenomenon hearing loss and hearing aids are relatively stable within respondents of each country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA.; Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.; Audiology India, Mysore, India.
authors.forename: Vinaya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manchaiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Gretchen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Berth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Danermark
authors.affiliation: The Department of Social Work, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Germundsson
keywords: Hearing aids; Hearing loss; ICF; Social representation