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. 2022 Sep;30(5):e1775-e1784.
doi: 10.1111/hsc.13606. Epub 2021 Oct 12.

The role of the family doctor's language in modulating people's attitudes towards hearing loss and hearing aids

Roberta Adorni  1 , Claudia Manzi  2 , Eleonora Crapolicchio  2 , Patrizia Steca  1
Affiliations

The role of the family doctor's language in modulating people's attitudes towards hearing loss and hearing aids

Roberta Adorni et al. Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Sep.

Abstract

Despite widespread hearing problems among older adults, only a minority of them use hearing aids. The decision to rely on hearing aids is influenced by several psychosocial factors, which may include attitudes influenced by significant others, particularly caregivers and health professionals. The language used by professionals when approaching this topic is particularly important. The purpose of this study was to deepen the role played by different communication styles in the area of hearing impairment by analysing the impact of language-medical versus everyday-used in the doctor-patient interaction on attitudes and behavioural intentions in a sample of potential caregivers of older adults. 209 Italian volunteers aged between 19 and 60 completed an online experimental study. The results suggested that, when interacting with doctors, exposure to a language that includes medical words promotes negative attitudes towards hearing loss. Nevertheless, medical language induces positive attitudes towards hearing aids and encourages people to adopt them when needed as well as recommending them to relatives and friends. Overall, the use of formal, medical language in doctor-patient communication, despite sounding less reassuring, is more effective in persuading people with hearing loss to rely on hearing aids.

Keywords: ageing; attitudes; health communication; hearing aids; hearing loss; intention; language.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest concerning the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Participants who read the everyday dialogue showed a more positive attitude towards hearing loss than the participants who read the other two dialogues (on the left). On the contrary, participants who read the medical dialogue showed a more positive attitude towards the hearing aids, deeming them more useful than the participants who read the other two dialogues (on the right). Note. The scales of the attitude towards hearing loss (on the left) and hearing aids (on the right) range from 1 to 7
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Consistent with what was observed for the attitude towards hearing aids, the participants who read the medical dialogue expressed a higher intention to adopt hearing aids than the participants who read the other two dialogues, both for themselves and for their family or friends. Note. The scales of the behavioural intention to adopt hearing aids (on the left) and of recommending the adoption of hearing aids (on the right) range from 1 to 5
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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