Familiarity with hearing assistance technology

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2013-08-01

Department

Towson University. Department of Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology and Deaf Studies

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Rights

Copyright protected, all rights reserved.
There are no restrictions on access to this document. An internet release form signed by the author to display this document online is on file with Towson University Special Collections and Archives.

Subjects

Abstract

Using hearing assistance technologies (HAT) can increase quality of life and increase the ability to live independently for those with hearing loss. However, past research indicated only a small number of people use HAT. The purpose of this study was to identify: a) how familiar people are with HAT, b) how useful they believe HAT are for them, and c) how useful HAT are for people with hearing loss. Additionally, the study identified how much money people expected each device to cost and how much money they were willing to pay for each device. The study consisted of a questionnaire containing pictures and a short description of 20 different HAT. Respondents were 50 audiology patients from three different audiology practices in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Results of the study indicated people are not familiar with most HAT; however respondents indicated HAT would be useful for other people with hearing loss.