Factors that Contribute to Hearing Handicap and Hearing Loss Treatment Decisions of Older Adults

项目摘要/摘要 使用助听器治疗听力损失的建议通常是由以下测试结果驱动的 听觉阈值、中耳功能和单词识别，这些都为听力专家提供了 外周和中枢听觉系统功能的准确图像。然而，估计只有20- 30%的被确认为助听器候选人的人报告使用助听器1.听力障碍，即 只与听力损失有适度的相关性，是更好地预测谁可能需要和受益的指标 助听器2、3。然而，导致自称听力障碍的因素并不是 很好理解。有关听力损失治疗的研究主要集中在与听力有关的 (例如，提高阈值、降低噪声中的语音感知)或与设备相关(例如，压缩 策略、降噪技术)因素，研究较少，侧重于个体的影响 心理因素的差异，如个性和认知能力。目前的研究 建议使用先进的统计技术来调查个体差异是如何 人格和认知对听力障碍的结构有贡献和定义，并决定 听力损失、听力障碍、认知和个性如何影响助听器的使用。结果 通过对该方案的研究，将使该方案的制定更加全面和有效 越来越多的听力障碍老年人的听力保健治疗选择 在美国各地。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Recommendation for treatment of hearing loss with hearing aids is usually driven by results of tests of auditory thresholds, middle ear function, and word recognition, which provide the audiologist with an accurate picture of peripheral and central auditory system function. However, only an estimated 20- 30% of individuals identified as hearing-aid candidates, report using them 1. Hearing handicap, which is only moderately correlated with hearing loss, is a better predictor of who may need and benefit from hearing aids 2, 3. However, the factors that contribute to self-reported hearing handicap are not well understood. Research regarding hearing loss treatment is primarily focused on hearing-related (e.g., elevated thresholds, reduced speech-in-noise perception) or device-related (e.g., compression strategies, noise reduction technology) factors, with fewer studies, focused on the effects of individual differences in psychological factors, such as personality and cognitive abilities. The current study proposes to use advanced statistical techniques to investigate how individual differences in personality and cognition contribute to and define the construct of hearing handicap, and determine how hearing loss, hearing handicap, cognition, and personality influence hearing aid use. Results from this program of research will inform the development of more comprehensive and effective hearing healthcare treatment options for the growing number of older adults with hearing handicap across the United States.