TY - JOUR
T1 - Consistency of hearing aid use in infants with early-identified hearing loss
AU - Moeller, Mary Pat
AU - Hoover, Brenda
AU - Peterson, Barbara
AU - Stelmachowicz, Pat
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Purpose: To examine the consistency of hearing aid use by infants. A goal was to identify maternal, child, and situational factors that affected consistency of device use. Method: Maternal interviews were conducted using a nonvalidated structured interview (Amplification in Daily Life Questionnaire) that included 5-point Likert scale items and open-ended questions. Participants were mothers of 7 infants with mild to moderately severe hearing loss who were enrolled in a longitudinal study. Data were collected at 4 intervals (10.5-12, 16.5, 22.5, and 28.5 months old). Results: Consistency of amplification use was variable at early ages but improved with age. By age 28.5 months, toddlers used amplification regularly in most settings. Selected daily situations (e.g., in car or outdoors) were more challenging for maintaining device use than contexts where the child was closely monitored. Only 2 families established early, consistent full-time use across all contexts examined. Qualitative results were used to identify familial, developmental, and situational variables that influenced the consistency of infant/toddler device use. Conclusion: Families may benefit from audiologic counseling that acknowledges the multi-faceted challenges that arise. Audiologists can work in partnership with families to promote consistent device use across a variety of daily situations.
AB - Purpose: To examine the consistency of hearing aid use by infants. A goal was to identify maternal, child, and situational factors that affected consistency of device use. Method: Maternal interviews were conducted using a nonvalidated structured interview (Amplification in Daily Life Questionnaire) that included 5-point Likert scale items and open-ended questions. Participants were mothers of 7 infants with mild to moderately severe hearing loss who were enrolled in a longitudinal study. Data were collected at 4 intervals (10.5-12, 16.5, 22.5, and 28.5 months old). Results: Consistency of amplification use was variable at early ages but improved with age. By age 28.5 months, toddlers used amplification regularly in most settings. Selected daily situations (e.g., in car or outdoors) were more challenging for maintaining device use than contexts where the child was closely monitored. Only 2 families established early, consistent full-time use across all contexts examined. Qualitative results were used to identify familial, developmental, and situational variables that influenced the consistency of infant/toddler device use. Conclusion: Families may benefit from audiologic counseling that acknowledges the multi-faceted challenges that arise. Audiologists can work in partnership with families to promote consistent device use across a variety of daily situations.
KW - Hearing aids
KW - Infants
KW - Toddlers
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U2 - 10.1044/1059-0889(2008/08-0010)
DO - 10.1044/1059-0889(2008/08-0010)
M3 - Article
C2 - 19029531
AN - SCOPUS:67651146763
SN - 1059-0889
VL - 18
SP - 14
EP - 22
JO - American journal of audiology
JF - American journal of audiology
IS - 1
ER -