Self-perception changes in adults post-hearing aid adoption

Abstract

Background: Despite their proven benefits for communication, hearing aids continue to show low adoption and use among individuals with hearing loss who require intervention. Various audiological factors contribute to these outcomes; however, limited research has explored the psychosocial aspects that influence hearing aid adoption and use, which could have important implications for rehabilitation strategies. Objective: This study aimed to explore changes in self-perception experienced by adults following hearing aid adoption. Method: A qualitative design was followed to thematically analyse retrospective interview responses from 42 adult participants. Participants were recruited using the Hearing Tracker and Lexie Hearing databases in the United States. Results: Participant ages ranged from 40 to 84 years (mean=70.2 years; 8.2 SD). The majority of participants were male (n=20; 66.7%), and most participants were unilateral hearing aid users (n=27; 90%). Five main themes emerged: self-awareness, overall communication, social engagement, improved quality of life, and work performance. Within these main themes, 13 sub-themes emerged, where participants described a range of positive experiences, such as greater acceptance of hearing loss, heightened confidence, and increased participation. At the same time, some negative experiences were also reported, including perceptions of no noticeable change, as well as persistent communication and hearing difficulties. Conclusion: Hearing aid adoption may support improvements in self-awareness, hearing ability, and participation in everyday life, contributing to predominantly positive changes in self-perception in adults. Although hearing aids play an important role in enhancing psychosocial outcomes, challenges still remain due to unmet expectations or limited benefits in some situations. These findings emphasise the importance and the need for holistic hearing rehabilitation and counselling to communicate both the benefits and limitations of hearing aid use in clinical settings.