Joseph Etienne

Publication Date

7-1985

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

DeWayne Mitchell, Stephen Schnacke, James Naas

Comments

Access granted to WKU students, faculty and staff only.

After an extensive unsuccessful search for the author, this thesis is considered an orphan work, which may be protected by copyright. The inclusion of this orphan work on TopScholar does not guarantee that that orphan work may be used for any purpose and any use of the orphan work may subject the user to a claim of copyright infringement. The reproduction of this work is made by WKU without any purpose of direct or indirect commercial advantage and is made for purposes of preservation and research.

See also WKU Archives - Authorization for Use of Thesis, Special Project & Dissertation

Degree Program

Educational Leadership

Degree Type

Education Specialist

Abstract

Geriatric hearing aid users are not always satisfied with their ability to hear and understand while using their hearing aids. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors which may affect the ability of an individual, 62 years of age and older, to use amplification. Results of correlation and group difference statistical analyses, this study indicated which social, emotional adjustment, and perceptual factors tend to influence the potentially successful hearing aid user.

Results indicated that successful hearing aid users consistently wear their hearing aids in a variety of quiet and noisy listening situations, while dissatisfied users tend to limit use of their hearing aids to in-home use. Additionally, dissatisfied users tend to allow external factors to influence their decision making. These findings lead the practicing audiologist to question where the motivation lies for the individual considering amplification.

Utilizing results from this study, specific suggestions are given. These suggestions can be used by hearing health professionals to help these individuals adjust to amplification more readily or help them determine that amplification is not an immediate necessity.

Disciplines

Communication Sciences and Disorders | Education | Speech and Hearing Science

Download

Share

COinS