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Semin Hear 2006; 27(4): 325-329
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-954860
Published in 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Hearing Aid Self-Efficacy of New and Experienced Hearing Aid Users

Sherri L. Smith1 , Robin Lea West2
  • 1James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home, Tennessee and Departments of Communicative Disorders and Surgery, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
  • 2Department of Psychology and Center for Gerontological Studies, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Publication History

Publication Date:
22 November 2006 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Hearing aid self-efficacy (i.e., beliefs individuals have in their ability to perform the skills needed to be successful hearing aid users) may be related to long-term hearing aid use. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the audiologic correlates of hearing aid self-efficacy as assessed by the Measure of Audiologic Rehabilitation Self-Efficacy for Hearing Aids (MARS-HA). New and experienced hearing aid users (n = 211) were given the MARS-HA. The results indicated that individuals with moderately severe hearing loss had lower self-efficacy for aided listening conditions than individuals with mild hearing loss. Individuals with poor word recognition abilities in quiet also had lower overall hearing aid self-efficacy than individuals with good to fair word recognition abilities. These results suggested that hearing aid users who have a moderate hearing loss (or worse) and hearing aid users with poor word recognition abilities may require additional counseling and audiologic rehabilitation to increase their hearing aid self-efficacy.

KEYWORDS

Hearing aids - self-efficacy - older adult - outcome measurement - audiologic rehabilitation

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Sherri L SmithAu.D. Ph.D. 

James H. Quillen VA Medical Center

Audiology-126, Mountain Home, TN 37684

Email: sherri.smith@med.va.gov

Robin Lea WestPh.D. 

PO BOX 112250, Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville

FL 32611-2250

Email: rwest@geron.ufl.edu