Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Cochlear Implants in Adults

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the knowledge of and attitudes toward hearing loss and hearing aids (HA) and cochlear implants (CI) based on background. Methods: A total of 356 adults, including users of HA and CI participated with a variety of background variables, including age, use of amplification, experience with hearing-impaired listeners, and educational majors in audiology and speech-language pathology. The group completed 10 questions on their knowledge of and attitudes toward hearing loss, HA and CI. Results: Almost all the participants understood HA and CI, but HA and CI users had a low level of knowledge of hearing loss, HA and CI. Participants had positive attitudes toward HA and CI. However, HA and CI current users were mystified by their hearing devices. They had no negative attitudes toward hearing devices that is worn by people with hearing loss, but non-users felt uncomfortable if others noticed they were using HA and CI. Students with audiology and speech-language pathology majors showed greater knowledge and more positive attitudes toward hearing loss and HA and CI. Conclusion: Despite most participants having a good knowledge of hearing loss, current device users had a rather low level of knowledge about hearing loss and their devices. These results indicate that users need more education about hearing loss and their own devices. Further, some non-users felt a stigma toward the use of HA and CI. These results suggest that more education is needed for better knowledge and more positive attitudes toward hearing loss and both HA and CI.