Influence of Hearing Risk Information on the Motivation and Modification of Personal Listening Device Use.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was (a) to investigate the behaviors, knowledge, and motivators associated with personal listening device (PLD) use and (b) to determine the influence of different types of hearing health risk education information (text with or without visual images) on motivation to modify PLD listening use behaviors in young adults.


METHODS
College-age students (N = 523) completed a paper-and-pencil survey tapping their behaviors, knowledge, and motivation regarding listening to music or media at high volume using PLDs. Participants rated their motivation to listen to PLDs at lower volume levels following each of three information sets: text only, behind-the-ear hearing aid image with text, and inner ear hair cell damage image with text.


RESULTS
Acoustically pleasing and emotional motives were the most frequently cited (38%-45%) reasons for listening to music or media using a PLD at high volume levels. The behind-the-ear hearing aid image with text information was significantly (p < .0001) more motivating to participants than text alone or the inner ear hair cell damage image with text.


CONCLUSIONS
Evocative imagery using hearing aids may be an effective approach in hearing protective health campaigns for motivating safer listening practices with PLDs in young adults.
Adelphi University, Garden City, NYLong Island Doctor of Audiology Consortium, Garden City, NY.
Yula C
YC
Serpanos
Pace University, New York, NY.
Abbey L
AL
Berg
Adelphi University, Garden City, NYLong Island Doctor of Audiology Consortium, Garden City, NY.
Brittany
B
Renne
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; D006801:Humans; D055539:MP3-Player; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012306:Risk; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult