Current studies have explained only a small proportion of variance in hearing aid (HA) uptake and use. This novel study applied theoretical frameworks of human behaviour to develop surveys to identify further barriers and enablers that could be addressed with behavioural interventions.
Audiologists counselling older adults about hearing aids may benefit from awareness of specific theoretically grounded barriers and enablers, though clinical protocol changes should await broader validation of this survey tool.
Understanding the precise behavioural and psychological drivers of hearing aid uptake in older adults could inform more targeted counselling strategies and public health interventions to close the hearing aid adoption gap.
- 01A new survey instrument was developed using a theoretical behaviour-change framework to study hearing aid adoption.
- 02The study targets older adults, the largest demographic group with untreated hearing loss.
- 03Both uptake (getting a hearing aid) and use (wearing it consistently) were examined.
- 04Published in International Journal of Audiology (PMID 42324721).
- 05The framework-based approach aims to explain variance in adoption beyond simple demographic factors.
A theoretical framework-based survey can identify barriers and enablers that explain variance in hearing aid uptake and use among older adults.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42324721
- DOI
- 10.1080/14992027.2025.2537689.
- Journal
- International Journal of Audiology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Older adults with hearing loss, examining hearing aid uptake and sustained use
- Intervention
- Theoretical framework-based survey on hearing aid barriers and enablers
Primary outcomes
Identification of barriers to hearing aid uptake in older adults; Identification of enablers to hearing aid use in older adults; Variance explained in hearing aid adoption