Hearing loss has a variety of psychosocial effects that often negatively affect those
who have it and their communication partners. The negative effects are seen in peoples'
attitudes toward hearing loss, compliance with treatment recommendations, and willingness
to change communication behavior. One result is the tendency to blame the hearing
aids for problems in understanding what others are saying when other factors are the
real contributors to communication breakdowns. Educating patients and their communication
partners about these hearing loss-related factors that interfere with getting the
maximum benefits from hearing technology is a necessary step in effectively managing
hearing loss.
Keywords
Human dynamics - psychosocial challenges - Ida Institute tools
