Impact of patient attributes on the relationship between hearing handicap and readiness to pursue audiologic rehabilitation

This study explored whether select patient attributes were significant predictors of readiness to pursue hearing aids (HAs) and estimated the impacts of hearing aid self-efficacy (HASE) and emotional states, on the relationship between perceived hearing handicap and readiness to pursue HAs. Sixty-two adults with self-reported hearing difficulties and no previous experience with HAs self-reported their hearing handicap, HASE, personality, emotional states in varying contexts, and readiness to pursue HAs. Individuals with greater hearing handicap and who had experienced hearing loss for a shorter duration were more ready to pursue HAs. Having higher HASE, more positive emotional states in “Social” situations, higher scores for the Agreeableness, and having lower Conscientiousness personality trait scores also independently predicted readiness. Neither HASE nor reported emotional states had a significant impact on the relationship between perceived hearing handicap and readiness to pursue HAs. Certain patient characteristics independently motivate people towards or away from pursuing HAs. However, it remains unclear whether targeted modification of these attributes would directly facilitate behaviour change. Future research should further explore these questions to facilitate a more individualised audiologic rehabilitation.

本研究旨在探究筛选出的患者特征是否可作为追求助听器（Hearing Aids, HAs）意愿的显著预测因子，并评估助听器自我效能（Hearing Aid Self-Efficacy, HASE）与情绪状态对感知听力障碍与追求助听器意愿之间关联的影响。本研究共纳入62名自述存在听力困难且未使用过助听器的成年人，要求其完成关于自身感知听力障碍、助听器自我效能、人格特质、不同情境下情绪状态以及追求助听器意愿的自评。结果显示，感知听力障碍程度更高、听力损失病程更短的个体，其追求助听器的意愿更强。此外，更高的助听器自我效能评分、“社交”情境下更积极的情绪状态、更高的宜人性（Agreeableness）得分以及更低的尽责性（Conscientiousness）人格特质得分，均可独立预测更高的追求助听器意愿。值得注意的是，助听器自我效能与自述情绪状态均未对感知听力障碍与追求助听器意愿之间的关联产生显著影响。部分患者特征可独立地推动或阻碍个体追求助听器的行为，但目前尚不明确对这些特征进行针对性调整是否可直接促进行为改变。未来研究应进一步探究此类问题，以推动更具个体化的听力学康复实践。