Ideal characteristics of a listening device
type: CreativeWork
description: Hearing impairment constitutes a significant global health challenge, affecting millions, particularly within the elderly demographic. It is expected that without intervention, the number of individuals with hearing impairment will surge to 630 million by 2030 (WHO, 2018). Despite its adverse effects on well-being, including mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, hearing loss is often insufficiently addressed, resulting in low adoption rates for hearing aids (HAs) (McCormack & Fortnum, 2013). Over-the-counter listening devices (OTCLDs) have emerged as a potential solution to enhance accessibility and affordability, although they are met with professional reservations (Manchaiah et al., 2023). A listening device (LD) is used to improve overall communication of individuals with hearing difficulties as well as enhance speech signals through amplification equipment within the device (Kim & Kim, 2014). Research focusing on patient preferences for HAs underscores the importance of attributes like comfort, feedback reduction, and cost-effectiveness (Bridges et al., 2012). Due to the low utilisation of LDs, there has been growing interest in the users' preferences for LDs and what their ideal LD would consist of in order to promote usage for mild to moderate sensorineural hearing losses (SNHL) (Urbanski Dana et al., 2021). In summary, prioritising the expansion of innovative hearing technologies should be a central policy concern to comprehensively address untreated hearing loss. Aim: The aim was to determine what factors could influence the overall uptake of listening devices (LDs) for future potential users over the age of 18. Objectives: Determine individuals preferred characteristics of LDs. Explore factors that influence uptake of LDs. Determine individuals' views on LDs. Research design: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative data were collected through descriptive Like…
abstract: Hearing impairment constitutes a significant global health challenge, affecting millions, particularly within the elderly demographic. It is expected that without intervention, the number of individuals with hearing impairment will surge to 630 million by 2030 (WHO, 2018). Despite its adverse effects on well-being, including mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, hearing loss is often insufficiently addressed, resulting in low adoption rates for hearing aids (HAs) (McCormack & Fortnum, 2013). Over-the-counter listening devices (OTCLDs) have emerged as a potential solution to enhance accessibility and affordability, although they are met with professional reservations (Manchaiah et al., 2023). A listening device (LD) is used to improve overall communication of individuals with hearing difficulties as well as enhance speech signals through amplification equipment within the device (Kim & Kim, 2014). Research focusing on patient preferences for HAs underscores the importance of attributes like comfort, feedback reduction, and cost-effectiveness (Bridges et al., 2012). Due to the low utilisation of LDs, there has been growing interest in the users' preferences for LDs and what their ideal LD would consist of in order to promote usage for mild to moderate sensorineural hearing losses (SNHL) (Urbanski Dana et al., 2021). In summary, prioritising the expansion of innovative hearing technologies should be a central policy concern to comprehensively address untreated hearing loss. Aim: The aim was to determine what factors could influence the overall uptake of listening devices (LDs) for future potential users over the age of 18. Objectives: Determine individuals preferred characteristics of LDs. Explore factors that influence uptake of LDs. Determine individuals' views on LDs. Research design: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative data were collected through descriptive Like…
author: Chappel, Alexia
language: en
keywords: Hearing impairment, over the counter listening devices (OTCLDs), Hearing aids (HAs), Listening devices (LDs), Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), Likert scale questionnaire (LSQ)
date published: 2025
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:23:10Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42201