American Journal of Audiology最新文献

{"title":"Usability of Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids in Older Adults.","authors":"Laura Coco, Tiana Weeks, Colten Mouzin, Chris Rodriguez, Eliana Marvizon, Rachel Wynsma, Ariana M Stickel","doi":"10.1044/2025_AJA-25-00013","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2025_AJA-25-00013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to identify individual factors associated with older adults' ability to manage commercially available over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids (HAs).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants completed an OTC HA skills assessment, scored on a 4-point Likert scale (3 = <i>independent with no difficulty</i>, 0 = <i>unable to complete</i>). Steps included downloading the application (app), inserting the HAs, and cleaning them with a brush. Scores were averaged to calculate an overall mean; higher scores indicated better OTC HA skills. Each independent variable was analyzed in separate linear regression models, and geometric mean ratios (GMRs) were calculated for significant factors. OTC HA skills were also examined dichotomously, with unsuccessful performance defined as any unresolved error.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighty-two adults participated in the study, 66% (<i>n</i> = 54) of whom were new HA users. After adjusting for covariates, education remained a strong predictor of OTC HA skills: Individuals with less than a college degree demonstrated 45% lower performance compared to those with a master's degree or higher (GMR = 0.55, 95% confidence interval [0.34, 0.89]). Overall, 68% (<i>n</i> = 56) of participants were unsuccessful in completing the OTC HA assessment. The most challenging tasks across all participants were manually adjusting the volume, pairing the HAs with a smartphone, and replacing the wax guard. New HA users performed significantly worse than experienced users on the task of putting the HAs on, <i>t</i>(52) = -2.58, <i>p</i> = .013, with a moderate effect size (Cohen's <i>d</i> = -0.44).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Education emerged as a strong predictor of OTC HA skills, underscoring the need to address disparities in device usability. These findings highlight the importance of developing tailored devices and educational materials to support users with lower educational attainment. Such efforts may help promote more equitable access and prevent the exacerbation of existing hearing health disparities in the era of OTC HAs.</p><p><strong>Supplemental material: </strong>https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.29847827.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":"34 3","pages":"695-706"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12418374/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144976179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional Consequences of Tinnitus in Military Service Members.","authors":"LaGuinn P Sherlock, Gregory M Ellis, Douglas S Brungart","doi":"10.1044/2025_AJA-25-00027","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2025_AJA-25-00027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Numerous individuals in the United States are bothered enough by tinnitus that it affects normal daily activities, including sleep and concentration. There is a high prevalence of self-reported bothersome tinnitus in the U.S. military, and therefore, it is important to assess the impact of tinnitus on functional performance. The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of tinnitus on a range of subjective, objective, auditory, and cognitive measures. A secondary aim was to determine which factors best predict whether individuals ever self-reported tinnitus. A prospective study was conducted to address the primary aim, and an exploratory machine learning approach was used to address the second.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The study included 463 active duty U.S. Service members being seen for annual hearing surveillance. Participants completed several auditory and cognitive tests, along with questionnaires regarding tinnitus, depression, anxiety, and sleep difficulty.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The primary aim found no significant performance differences on tasks of selective attention, short-term memory, or speech in noise between the tinnitus groups. However, there were significant group differences in extended high-frequency hearing. A machine learning algorithm was used to predict whether an individual self-reported experiencing tinnitus. The model had approximately 80% accuracy, excellent sensitivity, and modest specificity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Study findings corroborated other evidence that extended high-frequency thresholds are poorer in those who reported ever experiencing tinnitus, regardless of tinnitus bother. Our results suggest that combining results from audiometric testing, high-frequency hearing, and subjective assessment of sleep achieved 80% accuracy in predicting tinnitus presence.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"537-550"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144289735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical Adaptation of the Minimum Speech Test Battery-Version 3.","authors":"Heather L Strader, Camille C Dunn, Teresa A Zwolan","doi":"10.1044/2025_AJA-25-00066","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2025_AJA-25-00066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The Minimum Speech Test Battery-Version 3 for adults (MSTB-3) was released in 2024 as an evidence-based, streamlined test battery for pre-operative determination of candidacy and postoperative assessment of adult cochlear implant (CI) performance. A survey was dispersed to examine clinicians' understanding and adoption of the new protocol and gain clinical insights on its implementation.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A link to a 32-question survey was distributed to audiologists via e-mail and social media platforms, collecting responses from 307 participants practicing in various settings. The survey assessed respondents' understanding of MSTB-3 materials, participation in training sessions, and integration of MSTB-3 recommendations into clinical care. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data and identify trends.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results indicated that 89% of audiologists were familiar with the MSTB-3, with 60% having participated in one or more training sessions. Of the respondents, 85% reported incorporating parts or all of the MSTB-3 recommendations into their practices and 75% believed it improved standardization of CI evaluations. Clinicians reported using Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) word scores for CI candidacy decisions, consistent with MSTB-3 recommendations, but varied in the score criteria used to determine candidacy. Results show a trend toward more streamlined and efficient patient care delivery recommendations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The MSTB-3 has facilitated greater consistency in CI evaluation and follow-up care, addressing historical variability in clinical practices. Its evidence-based approach, including streamlined test protocols and user-friendly tools, offers a framework for improved CI access and standardization. Further training and dissemination efforts are recommended to enhance clinicians' understanding and to address implementation challenges, ultimately advancing the quality of CI services and reducing disparities in care.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"450-466"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Potential of Using the Integrated Digit-in-Noise Test as a Measure of Speech Recognition in Older Hearing Aid Users.","authors":"Shangqiguo Wang, Lena L N Wong","doi":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00264","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to explore the integrated digit-in-noise test (iDIN) as a tool for assessing speech recognition in noise among older hearing aid (HA) users, including those who cannot be tested using conventional sentence-in-noise tests.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The study involved 81 older HA users with moderate-to-severe hearing loss. Participants underwent the iDIN, along with two sentence-in-noise tests (Mandarin Hearing in Noise Test [MHINT] and Mandarin Chinese Matrix Sentence Test [CMNmatrix]) and two working memory (WM) tests (reading span test and digit span test). Correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression were employed to relate iDIN outcomes to conventional sentence-in-noise test results.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 56 participants who completed all tests, high correlations (ranging from .66 to .73) were observed between speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) measured using sentence-in-noise tests and SRTs measured with two-, three-, four-, and five-digit sequences on the iDIN. Reading span and two-digit SRT were significant predictors for SRTs measured using the CMNmatrix test. The two-digit SRT and the difference between five-digit and two-digit SRTs accounted for 57.9% and 61.3% of the variance in MHINT and CMNmatrix SRTs, respectively. When using 0.5 as the cutoffs for the two-digit SRT, among the 81 participants, the two-digit SRT (sensitivity: 0.818; specificity: 0.895) effectively differentiated those who could successfully complete sentence-in-noise tests.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings highlight the potential of the iDIN as a simple, quick, and reliable tool for measuring speech recognition that correlates well with performance on conventional sentence-in-noise tests and for those who could not be tested using these conventional measures. While results on short digit sequences primarily reflect auditory function, longer digit sequences involve the contribution of WM function, providing additional information regarding an individual's ability to understand speech in noise.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"581-594"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144585474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vestibular Phenotype-Genotype Correlation in a Cohort of 35 European Usher Syndrome Patients.","authors":"Ana Margarida Amorim, Ana Beatriz Ramada, Ana Cristina Lopes, Hugo Barcelos Figueiredo, João Lemos, João Carlos Ribeiro","doi":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00194","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of the study was to investigate genotype-phenotype correlations in Usher syndrome (USH).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Thirty-five USH patients were included, categorized into three genetic-based groups: USH1 (<i>n</i> = 11), USH2 (<i>n</i> = 22), and USH4 (<i>n</i> = 2). The functional and emotional impact of dizziness and equilibrium was assessed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. Participants underwent pure-tone threshold testing, bithermal caloric testing, rotary chair testing (RCT), video head impulse test (vHIT), ocular (oVEMP) and cervical (cVEMP) vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and posturography. Genotype-phenotype associations were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Total DHI could only distinguish USH1 (25.71 ± 21.04) from USH2 (50.13 ± 22.54, <i>p</i> = .024) but not between the three groups (<i>p</i> = .084). ABC and HADS could not also distinguish between the three USH subgroups (<i>p</i> = .286 and .180). Hearing loss in USH1 was significantly greater than in USH2 and USH4 (<i>p</i> < .001). USH1 showed greater caloric weakness than USH2 and USH4 (<i>p</i> < .004). RCT was not completed in USH4 but could distinguish between USH1 and USH2 (sinus 0.16 Hz, <i>p</i> = .033; sinus 0.32 Hz, <i>p</i> = .011; and sinus 0.64 Hz, <i>p</i> = .003). vHIT in USH1 demonstrated lower overall gain than in USH2 and USH4 (<i>p</i> < .001). USH1 showed higher number of absent cVEMP responses in the right and/or left ear when compared to USH2/USH4 (<i>p</i> < .001). USH1 showed a higher number of absent oVEMP responses in the right and/or left ear when compared to USH2 and USH4 (right ear, <i>p</i> < .007; left ear, <i>p</i> < .023). In posturography, no relevant differences were found between the three USH groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Contemporary hearing and vestibular assessment successfully differentiated between distinct USH groups. However, varying degrees of vestibular dysfunction were observed across all groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"502-515"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144129380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Normative Performance Functions for the Modified Connected Speech Test.","authors":"Yu-Ying Sung, Arman Hassanpour, Paula Folkeard, Ingrid S Johnsrude, Jack M Scott, Vijay Parsa, Ewan A Macpherson, Susan D Scollie","doi":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00234","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00234","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The Connected Speech Test (CST) assesses an individual's ability to understand everyday contextualized running speech amidst competing background babble. To minimize accent effects on speech perception scores and reduce the noise floor of the original recordings, an updated version was developed by Saleh et al. (2020). The updated recordings feature a speaker with a General American accent to replace the Southern U.S. accent in the original test, and modern recording equipment was used to achieve a lower noise floor. The aim of this study was to collect normative data, characterizing performance on the updated CST. Self-reported speech intelligibility and listening effort ratings were collected to examine how subjective perceptions of the task vary across test conditions.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>To evaluate normative performance on this updated test, 40 native English-speaking adults (36 females and four males) with normal hearing were recruited from The University of Western Ontario. Multitalker babble was presented at a fixed level, and speech was presented at fixed signal-to-babble ratios (SBRs) to participants in both co-located and separated loudspeaker conditions. At each SBR, participants were scored based on key words correctly identified. Subjective speech intelligibility and listening effort were evaluated using self-report scales. For each measure, data were fitted with transfer functions to characterize performance on the task.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants demonstrated significantly better performance in the separated loudspeaker condition, indicating a spatial release from masking. For both conditions, increased SBR was associated with increased performance and subjective speech intelligibility, and decreased listening effort.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study provides normative data to characterize expected performance for the updated version of the CST.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"595-608"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144683474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Virtual Progressive Tinnitus Management Group Care Using VA Video Connect.","authors":"Catherine M Edmonds","doi":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This clinical study aimed to discuss the delivery and outcome of virtual group care for Veterans receiving progressive tinnitus management (PTM) services in the Bay Pines Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Virtual group PTM was provided to Veterans during fiscal years (FYs) 2022-2024 using the VA Video Connect (VVC) platform. Outcome measures were obtained via the Tinnitus Workshop Follow-Up form after completion of the virtual workshops.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Outcome data collected for FYs 2022-2024 showed that 80% of the respondents used all four strategies instructed in the workshops (using sound, relaxation, planning activities, changing unhelpful thoughts about tinnitus). Specifically, 94% reported using sound, 94% used relaxation strategies, 92% reported planning activities, and 88% reported changing unhelpful thoughts about tinnitus. The majority of respondents reported an improved sense of control of tinnitus (68%), improved ability to cope with tinnitus (68%), improved overall quality of life (QOL; 67%), and less bothersome tinnitus (60%) after participating in the workshops. Ninety-three percent of respondents recommended the workshops for other Veterans with bothersome tinnitus. Sixty percent requested text messages to support their tinnitus plan of care.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Clinical outcomes of care delivered to Veterans with bothersome tinnitus showed use of the PTM coping strategies and improved QOL indicators after completion of care, with 93% of the respondents recommending virtual group PTM care to other Veterans with bothersome tinnitus. Veterans were receptive to receiving text messages to supplement their tinnitus plan of care. Clinical tele-audiology services for group participants in the VA can be successfully delivered via the VVC platform for a variety of audiologic needs including bothersome tinnitus.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144800722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Remote Cochlear Implant Services to Improve Veteran Outcomes.","authors":"Cyndi E Trueheart, Douglas M Hildrew","doi":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00230","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Cochlear implants (CIs) are an effective strategy for managing patients with hearing loss who derive limited benefit from other treatment options. Although the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has made a strong effort to expand access to CI technology and onboard new CI sites across the country, access to consistent CI services can still be challenging. This is especially true for Veterans who reside in more rural and remote areas. The purpose of this tutorial is to describe various models of care and provide solutions that are replicable throughout the VHA for meeting the needs of our most severely hard of hearing Veterans.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Routine availability of CI programming using telehealth options, such as clinical video telehealth (CVT) or VA video connect (VVC), significantly improve access to CI care. Other benefits of remote programming may include decreased wait times, less travel time and cost, and improved adherence to treatment plans. Additionally, aural rehabilitation for CI recipients can be performed remotely to improve outcomes. This innovative model for delivering audiology services will be described.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Remote care teleaudiology CI services available for Veterans in the VHA have the potential to improve outcomes in a cost-effective manner that is patient-centered and replicable across the enterprise. Implementing these strategies addresses the critical need to standardize telehealth practices for CI programming and rehabilitative interventions across the VHA. This program can give all Veterans access to CI care in an efficient manner, with reduced costs, result in fewer travel barriers, and allow for a more positive outcome for the VHA, its patients, and their families.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144683475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Telemedicine for Audiology and ENT in Alaska: 10 Years and a Pandemic Later.","authors":"Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Philip Hofstetter, John Kokesh","doi":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00282","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Telemedicine can increase access to services, reduce wait time, and decrease patient travel. The COVID-19 pandemic revolutionized telemedicine with the rapid removal of barriers that have historically challenged the implementation and adoption of telemedicine. Yet, despite this evidence, telemedicine utilization is declining postpandemic, and barriers have been reinstated, such as lack of payment parity and more stringent regulation. Alaska is dependent on telemedicine services to provide care with the majority of the state's population living in remote communities. Innovation in the early 2000s resulted in a cutting-edge customized telemedicine solution that created a network of specialty care access across the Tribal Health System in Alaska and was one of the largest telemedicine programs in the world. A shift in focus away from telemedicine to electronic health records stalled innovation, and reduced investment in funding, equipment, and research. This created a lack of clarity around system integration and functionality that eroded the utilization and effectiveness of telemedicine solutions. Today, there is much we can learn from renewed research efforts in innovative applications of telemedicine that can be used to inform policymakers and drive adoption.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>If hearing health care professionals are to address the public health crisis of a lack of access to care for the majority of the one in five individuals with hearing loss today, technology solutions such as telemedicine will need to be leveraged. This will require provider training and education; implementation of integrated telemedicine services; continued generation of evidence; and advocacy for regulatory, reimbursement, and payment reform.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144651013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Audiological Characteristics and Associations With Psychological Inflexibility.","authors":"Karen Muñoz, Bailey Sorensen, Aryn Kamerer, Michael P Twohig","doi":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00246","DOIUrl":"10.1044/2025_AJA-24-00246","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of this study was to describe psychological inflexibility for hearing difficulty for a sample of adults seeking hearing help and explore associations with demographic and audiological characteristics.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Archival data from 226 clinical electronic medical records at one university clinic were analyzed for this retrospective exploratory study. Audiometric test findings and results from the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Adult Hearing Loss (AAQ-AHL) were extracted for adult patients seen between June 1, 2022, and February 29, 2024.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The majority had a bilateral hearing loss (64%), 10% had a unilateral hearing loss, and 26% had bilateral pure-tone averages better than 25 dB HL. The AAQ-AHL total scores ranged from 0 to 51, and 8% had a high likelihood of distress from internal struggles related to their difficulty hearing. On individual items, up to one third of the sample expressed internal challenges. The AAQ-AHL total scores were moderately correlated with word recognition in noise, weakly correlated with better ear pure-tone average and word recognition in quiet, and were not correlated with age.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The current study adds to the previous research describing psychosocial challenges that can be experienced by people with hearing difficulties. Our research demonstrates that psychological inflexibility for hearing loss can be experienced by individuals of all ages and hearing status. Based on the present findings, we recommend that audiologists intentionally assess for psychosocial challenges for people seeking hearing help.</p>","PeriodicalId":49241,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Audiology","volume":" ","pages":"321-329"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143784627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}