Many with hearing loss do not recognize their need for support or may struggle to acknowledge and accept their hearing difficulties, and when one receives hearing aids for the first time, many feel the need for more information and support during their rehabilitation process....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Clinicians supporting new hearing aid users may consider structured online programs as a supplement to in-clinic counseling, but this study's design limits firm conclusions about effectiveness — await controlled trials before adopting as standard care.
First-time hearing aid uptake and adherence remain persistent challenges in audiology; digital support programs could offer scalable, low-cost adjuncts to traditional rehabilitation.
- 01Program targets first-time hearing aid users who struggle to acknowledge hearing difficulties.
- 02Study covers both the development process and user experience evaluation.
- 03Focus on psychosocial barriers (recognition, acceptance) to hearing aid adoption.
- 04Online delivery model supports scalability and remote access.
- 05User experience data provide preliminary feasibility signal, not efficacy evidence.
An online support program can be developed specifically for first-time hearing aid users who struggle to recognize or accept their hearing difficulties.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42953068
- DOI
- 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1924050.
- Journal
- Frontiers in Digital Health
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- First-time hearing aid users who struggle to recognize or accept hearing difficulties
- Intervention
- Online support program for first-time hearing aid users
Primary outcomes
Development process feasibility; User experience and acceptability