title: Perceived Benefit From Hearing Aid Use and Life-Space Mobility Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
abstract: To examine the association between perceived benefit from hearing aid (HA) use and life-space mobility among older adults.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional analysis of 76- to 91-year-old community-dwelling adults ( n = 702). Data on perceived hearing with and without a HA were obtained via postal questionnaire and data on life-space mobility (Life-Space Assessment, range = 0-120) via phone interview.
  
  
  
  Participants who perceived more benefit from HA use, had a better life-space mobility score ( M = 65, SD = 2.6) than participants who had less benefit from using a HA ( M = 55, SD = 3.2). Participants who benefitted more from HA use did not differ from those who did not have a HA ( M = 63, SD = 0.9) in their life-space mobility score.
  
  
  
  Perceived benefit from HA use is associated with higher life-space mobility among community-dwelling older adults. Future studies are needed to examine whether use of an appropriate HA promotes life-space mobility among those with difficulties in hearing.
authors.affiliation: 1 Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Hannele
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Polku
authors.affiliation: 1 Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.|2 Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuija M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Mikkola
authors.affiliation: 3 École d'orthophonie et d'audiologie, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.|4 Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gagné
authors.affiliation: 1 Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rantakokko
authors.affiliation: 1 Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Erja
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Portegijs
authors.affiliation: 1 Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rantanen
authors.affiliation: 1 Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viljanen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: aging; hearing; hearing aid; life-space; older people