Reasons for the non-use of hearing aids: perspectives of non-users, past users, and family members

Abstract

Objective: Hearing loss in the older adult population is a significant global health issue. Hearing aids can provide an effective means to address hearing loss and improve quality of life. Despite this, the uptake and continued use of hearing aids is low, with non-use of hearing aids representing a significant problem for effective audiological rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons for the non-use of hearing aids.

Design and study sample: A cross-sectional survey was used to investigate the reasons given for the non-use of hearing aids by people with hearing loss (n = 332) and family members (n = 313) of people with hearing loss in Australia, the UK, and USA.

Results: Survey results showed that hearing aid non-users generally cited external factors as reasons for non-use, whereas family members reported non-use due to attitudinal barriers. Past users of hearing aids and family members of past users both identified devices factors as barriers to use.

Conclusions: Differences in reasons for non-use may provide further insight for researchers and clinicians and help inform future clinical practice in addressing the low uptake and use of hearing aids by people with hearing loss and the role of family members in audiological rehabilitation.

Keywords: Hearing aids; family members; people with hearing loss; reasons for non-use.