The ‘Hearing Aid Effect’ In India: A Reality Check on the Mumbai Population

Abstract

Hearing aids enhance quality of life. However, their acceptance by individuals with hearing impairment seems poor. One possible reason is the ‘hearing aid effect’ (HAE), i.e., negative attitudes of other individuals towards a person with a hearing aid. The present study investigated the extent of the HAE in Mumbai; and the ability to identify hearing aids across gender and socioeconomic status (SES). A College students’ Attitudes towards Loss of Hearing Questionnaire (C-ALHQ), photographs of two individuals with hearing impairment and three linear analog scales were used. Results revealed that 93.46% people reacted considerately, 60.92% always noticed a hearing aid, 35.34 % associated hearing aids with slowness of thought and 27.38% with senility, but only 11.25% with stupidity. The higher SES group seemed more aware; the lower SES population more tolerant. Females were at an advantage since their hearing aid could get camouflaged; also they were rated more positively than males.