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

项目总结/摘要 使用助听器治疗听力损失的建议通常由以下测试结果驱动： 听觉阈值，中耳功能和单词识别，这些为听力学家提供了一个 准确了解外周和中枢听觉系统功能。据估计，只有20- 30%的人被确定为助听器候选人，报告使用它们1。听力障碍， 仅与听力损失中度相关，是一个更好的预测谁可能需要和受益 助听器的使用方法然而，导致自我报告的听力障碍的因素并不是 很好理解。关于听力损失治疗的研究主要集中在听力相关的 (e.g.,提高的阈值，降低的噪声中语音感知）或与设备相关的（例如，压缩 策略，降噪技术）因素，较少的研究，集中在个人的影响， 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如何在 人格和认知对听力障碍的构成起着决定作用， 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 从这个研究计划将告知发展更全面和有效的 为越来越多的听力障碍老年人提供听力保健治疗方案 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.