[Use of hearing aids by the elderly: correlation between intention and behavior].

Hearing in old age has negative consequences for elderly hearing impaired individuals. Most important in aural rehabilitation is the fitting of hearing aids. Problematic is the low use of hearing aids by elderly hearing impaired individuals. Therefore, in the present study predictors of hearing aid use will be analyzed. The theory of planned behavior was used in a sample of 54 men and women with presbyacusis (54-87 years old) for the prediction of hearing aid use. The analyses revealed that actual hearing aid use is influenced mainly by the intention to use hearing aids and by normative beliefs of the person. The intention to use hearing aids is influenced mainly by the attitude towards using hearing aids. Practical implications of the results are discussed: Aural rehabilitation possibly can be improved by changing attitudes toward hearing aid use and asking important members of the social network to participate actively in the aural rehabilitation process.