Open AccessCharacteristics and Help-Seeking Behavior of People Failing a Smart Device Self-Test for Hearing
Author(s) -
Danielle Schönborn,
Faheema Mahomed-Asmail,
Karina C. De Sousa,
Ariane Laplante-Lévesque,
David R. Moore,
Cas Smits,
De Wet Swanepoel
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
american journal of audiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.688
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1558-9137
pISSN - 1059-0889
DOI - 10.1044/2020_aja-19-00098
Subject(s) - audiologist , audiology , test (biology) , hearing loss , medicine , hearing aid , psychology , paleontology , biology
Purpose This study investigated user characteristics, help-seeking behavior, and follow-up actions of people who failed an app-based digits-in-noise hearing screening test, considering their stage of change. Method Test and user characteristics of 3,092 listeners who failed the test were retrospectively analyzed. A posttest survey determining follow-up (verb) actions was sent to listeners who failed the test ( n = 1,007), of which 59 responded. Results The majority of listeners were in the precontemplation stage (75.5%). Age and stage of change were significant ( p < .05) predictors of the digits-in-noise speech recognition threshold (DIN SRT). Listeners in the precontemplation stage were significantly younger than in other stages ( p < .05). Posttest survey response rate was low (5.9%). Of those, most (82.4%) did not think they had a hearing loss. Only 13.6% followed up with an audiologist. Conclusion Older people presented with poorer DIN SRTs and were typically in a more advanced stage of change. The majority of those who did not follow up after failing the screening test did not believe they had a hearing loss. A combination of factors, including poor DIN SRT, older age, and a more advanced stage of change inclined participants to follow up with audiological care.