Apa Enrico, Ferrari Silvia, Monzani Daniele, Ciorba Andrea, Sacchetto Luca, Dallari Virginia, Nocini Riccardo, Palma Silvia
Paediatric Audiovestibology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Di Circolo Hospital, ASST dei Settelaghi, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy.
Audiol Res. 2025 May 24;15(3):62. doi: 10.3390/audiolres15030062.
: Hearing loss represents an important communication barrier which can lead to social isolation and can be a challenge for mental health status. It is generally accepted that hearing aid (HA) users can develop a stigma related to hearing loss despite the perceived benefits due to most modern technologies. Nevertheless, stigma toward HAs may persist even when patients have been well acclimatized to their use. This study aims to evaluate their experiences in everyday life, the underlying social aspects and the utility of psychometric multidimensional approach in skilled HA users. : In total, 96 HA users and 85 normally hearing subjects were enrolled and asked to complete three psychometric questionnaires that investigated social functioning, body image perception, and psychological distress. HA users were additionally asked to fulfill a disease-specific survey, the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids. The performance of the devices was also investigated by HA's functional gain through free-field audiometry. : Even if auditory devices help with compensating the sensorial deprivation, patients often suffer from social anxiety, social phobia and body image concerns about their appearance while wearing HAs. : This study discloses psychopathological factors associated with the HA experience that are surprisingly present after long satisfying HA use. Despite the benefits, the satisfaction and the daily use, HA users continue to be worried about body image and report more psychopathological distress in comparison to their normal hearing peers.
听力损失是一个重要的沟通障碍，可能导致社会隔离，对心理健康状况也是一项挑战。人们普遍认为，尽管大多数现代技术给助听器（HA）使用者带来了明显益处，但他们仍可能产生与听力损失相关的污名感。然而，即便患者已很好地适应了助听器的使用，对助听器的污名感可能依然存在。本研究旨在评估熟练使用助听器的用户在日常生活中的体验、潜在的社会因素以及心理测量多维方法的效用。
总共招募了96名助听器使用者和85名听力正常的受试者，要求他们完成三份心理测量问卷，这些问卷调查社会功能、身体形象感知和心理困扰。此外，还要求助听器使用者完成一份针对该疾病的调查问卷，即《国际助听器效果量表》。通过自由声场听力测定法测量助听器的功能增益，以此来研究这些设备的性能。
即使听觉设备有助于补偿感觉剥夺，但患者在佩戴助听器时，往往会遭受社交焦虑、社交恐惧症以及对自身外貌的身体形象担忧。
本研究揭示了与使用助听器体验相关的精神病理因素，令人惊讶的是，在长期满意地使用助听器之后这些因素依然存在。尽管有诸多益处、满意度较高且能日常使用，但与听力正常的同龄人相比，助听器使用者仍会担心身体形象问题，并报告有更多的精神病理困扰。
