Professional and Lay Observers' Impressions of Preschoolers Wearing Hearing Aids

1980 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L. Danhauer ◽  
Gordon W. Blood ◽  
Ingrid M. Blood ◽  
Nancy Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Semantic Differential ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Semantic Differential Scale ◽  
Body Type ◽  
Factor I ◽  
Factor Ii ◽  
Photographic Slides

This study determined whether professional and lay observers had similar impressions of preschoolers wearing hearing aids and if the size of the aid affected ratings. Stimuli consisted of three photographic slides of nine normally-hearing and speaking male preschoolers wearing (1) a body-type hearing aid, (2) a post-auricular type aid, and (3) no aid. Slides were accompanied by taped speech samples. Stimuli were presented to 75 professional and 75 lay observers who rated the children on a semantic differential scale containing 15 adjectives. Ratings were submitted to a factor analysis revealing Factor I as achievement and Factor II as appearance. Results of MANOVAs revealed that neither professional nor lay observers discriminated against the children on appearance regardless of the presence of a hearing aid, but that both groups rated them significantly poorer on achievement when an aid was present. Lay observers' ratings showed a bias against the size of the aid, while professionals exhibited negative impressions whenever an aid was present, regardless of its size. These findings indicate that the "hearing aid effect" was present on variables of achievement even for normal-hearing preschoolers.

Peer Perceptions of Geriatrics Wearing Hearing Aids

1982 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen L. Iler ◽  
Jeffrey L. Danhauer ◽  
Anthony Mulac
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Semantic Differential ◽  
Close Friend ◽  
Body Type ◽  
Peer Perceptions ◽  
Hearing Aid Use ◽  
Initial Impressions

This study investigated whether geriatric observers having varying amounts of experience with hearing aid users formed different initial impressions of their peers who were shown in three conditions of hearing aid use, and whether the size of the aid affected their ratings. Stimuli consisted of 36 photographic slides, three each of six men and six women shown wearing: (a) a body type hearing aid, (b) a post-auricular type aid, and (c) no aid. The stimuli were presented to 72 geriatric observers drawn from three groups: (a) 24 with no prior hearing aid experience, (b) 24 having some experience with a spouse, family member, or close friend who wore an aid, and (c) 24 who were hearing aid users. The observers rated the 12 geriatrics on a 16-item semantic differential. Factor analysis of the ratings resulted in three factors: achievement, personality, and appearance. Analyses of variance revealed that none of the three observer groups rated the geriatrics lower on any of the three factors when they were shown wearing hearing aids. These findings that these peer observers did not perceive a "hearing aid effect" for the geriatric hearing aid wearers.

The Hearing Aid Effect in African American and Caucasian Males as Perceived by Female Judges of the Same Race

1999 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Davis ◽  
Rhonda Jackson ◽  
Tina Smith ◽  
William Cooper
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Undergraduate Education ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Semantic Differential ◽  
Semantic Differential Scale ◽  
Education Majors ◽  
Female Undergraduate ◽  
Lay Persons ◽  
Males And Females

Prior studies have proven the existence of the "hearing aid effect" when photographs of Caucasian males and females wearing a body aid, a post-auricular aid (behind-the-ear), or no hearing aid were judged by lay persons and professionals. This study was performed to determine if African American and Caucasian males, judged by female members of their own race, were likely to be judged in a similar manner on the basis of appearance, personality, assertiveness, and achievement. Sixty female undergraduate education majors (30 African American; 30 Caucasian) used a semantic differential scale to rate slides of preteen African American and Caucasian males, with and without hearing aids. The results of this study showed that female African American and Caucasian judges rated males of their respective races differently. The hearing aid effect was predominant among the Caucasian judges across the dimensions of appearance, personality, assertiveness, and achievement. In contrast, the African American judges only exhibited a hearing aid effect on the appearance dimension.

Teachers' Perceptions of Adolescent Girls Who Wear Hearing Aids

1989 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda R. Cox ◽  
William A. Cooper ◽  
Hiram L. McDade
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
College Education ◽  
Semantic Differential ◽  
Semantic Differential Scale ◽  
Education Majors ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
The Subject

Previous research has documented a "hearing aid effect" when males, from 4 to 15 years of age, are utilized as subjects. In this study females, ages 10–14, were photographed wearing a body aid, a postauricular aid, or no hearing aid. Sixty college education majors rated the subject in each photograph utilizing a semantic differential scale. Results indicated that when subjects were pictured wearing a hearing aid of either type, observers rated them lower on achievement but higher on factors of appearance, personality, and assertiveness than without the aid.

Children's Attitudes toward Peers Wearing Hearing Aids

1984 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan E. Dengerink ◽  
Jane Boyd Porter
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Semantic Differential ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Semantic Differential Scale ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Sixth Grade Students ◽  
Hearing Children ◽  
Impaired Children ◽  
Hearing Impaired Children

hundred fifth- and sixth-grade students were asked to rate slides of male children of the same age wearing various hearing aids, glasses, or no aid. Rating was accomplished using a semantic differential scale. The children gave poorer ratings to peers wearing hearing aids. Results suggest that normal-hearing children may need to be "educated" prior to hearing-impaired children entering their classroom.

Use of a Mild-Gain Hearing Aid by Middle-Age Normal-Hearing Adults Who Do and Do Not Self-Report Trouble Hearing in Background Noise

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-428
Author(s):  
Jasleen Singh ◽  
Karen A. Doherty
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Background Noise ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Hearing Aid Use ◽  
Hearing Handicap ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hearing Problems

Purpose The aim of the study was to assess how the use of a mild-gain hearing aid can affect hearing handicap, motivation, and attitudes toward hearing aids for middle-age, normal-hearing adults who do and do not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. Method A total of 20 participants (45–60 years of age) with clinically normal-hearing thresholds (< 25 dB HL) were enrolled in this study. Ten self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise, and 10 did not self-report difficulty hearing in background noise. All participants were fit with mild-gain hearing aids, bilaterally, and were asked to wear them for 2 weeks. Hearing handicap, attitudes toward hearing aids and hearing loss, and motivation to address hearing problems were evaluated before and after participants wore the hearing aids. Participants were also asked if they would consider purchasing a hearing aid before and after 2 weeks of hearing aid use. Results After wearing the hearing aids for 2 weeks, hearing handicap scores decreased for the participants who self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise. No changes in hearing handicap scores were observed for the participants who did not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. The participants who self-reported difficulty hearing in background noise also reported greater personal distress from their hearing problems, were more motivated to address their hearing problems, and had higher levels of hearing handicap compared to the participants who did not self-report trouble hearing in background noise. Only 20% (2/10) of the participants who self-reported trouble hearing in background noise reported that they would consider purchasing a hearing aid after 2 weeks of hearing aid use. Conclusions The use of mild-gain hearing aids has the potential to reduce hearing handicap for normal-hearing, middle-age adults who self-report difficulty hearing in background noise. However, this may not be the most appropriate treatment option for their current hearing problems given that only 20% of these participants would consider purchasing a hearing aid after wearing hearing aids for 2 weeks.

Measurements of Loudness Growth in 1/2-Octave Bands for Children and Adults With Normal Hearing

1999 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melisa R. Ellis ◽  
Michael K. Wynne
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Boundary Values ◽  
Simple Modification ◽  
Point Data ◽  
Loudness Growth

The loudness growth in 1/2-octave bands (LGOB) procedure has been shown previously to provide valid estimates of loudness growth for adults with normal hearing and those with hearing loss (Allen, Hall, & Jeng, 1990), and it has been widely incorporated into fitting strategies for adult hearing aid users by a hearing aid manufacturer. Here, we applied a simple modification of LGOB to children and adults with normal hearing and then compared the loudness growth functions (as obtained from end-point data) between the two age groups. In addition, reliability data obtained within a single session and between test sessions were compared between the two groups. Large differences were observed in the means between the two groups for the lower boundary values, the upper boundary values, and the range between boundaries both within and across all frequencies. The data obtained from children also had greater variance than the adult data. In addition, there was more variability in the data across test sessions for children. Many test-retest differences for children exceeded 10 dB. Adult test-retest differences were generally less than 10 dB. Although the LGOB with the modifications used in this study may be used to measure loudness growth in children, its poor reliability with this age group may limit its clinical use for children with hearing loss. Additional work is needed to explore whether loudness growth measures can be adapted successfully to children and whether these measures contribute worthwhile information for fitting hearing aids to children.

scholarly journals Scale development and an educational program to reduce the stigma of schizophrenia among community pharmacists: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoo Fujii ◽  
Manako Hanya ◽  
Kenta Murotani ◽  
Hiroyuki Kamei
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Factor I ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Factor Ii

Abstract Background Stigma associated with mental disorders is rooted among many pharmacists, and represents a major barrier to patient support in community-based psychiatry. We developed an assessment scale that is specifically designed to assess the level of stigma that pharmacists may have toward schizophrenia, and then examined the effects of reducing stigma with an educational program that focuses on communication with patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (PDS) using the newly developed Stigma Scale towards Schizophrenia for Community Pharmacists (SSCP). Methods SSCP was developed by exploratory factor analysis with promax rotation based on responses from 822 randomly selected community pharmacists. Furthermore, a randomized controlled trial was conducted for 115 community pharmacists to clarify the effects of reducing the stigma of schizophrenia using an educational program for them with a focus on communication with PDS. Participants were individually allocated to two groups: educational lecture group (56; only attending a lecture on schizophrenia) or contact-based intervention group (59; communicating with PDS and attending the lecture). The stigma assessment using SSCP was conducted immediately before and after the educational intervention. Results A total of 4 factors and 27 items were extracted from the exploratory factor analysis to comprise the SSCP. Cronbach’s α of SSCP, social distance at professional pharmacy service (factor I), attitudes towards PDS (factor II), self-disclosure (factor III), and social distance in personal (factor IV) were 0.89, 0.88, 0.76, 0.62, and 0.62, respectively. Educational program-related changes of the median (interquartile range) total SSCP score from baseline were − 9.0 (− 16.0 – − 5.0) in the contact-based intervention group and − 3.0 (− 7.0–1.0) in the educational lecture group, reflecting a significant reduction of stigma levels in the contact-based intervention group. On examining the SSCP subscales, scores for factor I and factor II significantly improved. The educational program was more effective for pharmacists aged 20–39 years or with negligible experience of communicating with PDS at work and/or in private life. Conclusions SSCP and the educational program for community pharmacists that focuses on communication with PDS were useful for assessing and reducing, respectively, the stigma attached by these pharmacists to schizophrenia. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000043189, registered on January 30, 2021), Retrospectively registered.

Verification of In Situ Thresholds and Integrated Real-Ear Measurements

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 663-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. DiGiovanni ◽  
Ryan M. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Measurement System ◽  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Hearing Aid ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Ohio University ◽  
Positive Direction ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Threshold Measurement

Background: Accurate prescriptive gain results in a more accurate fit, lower return rate in hearing aids, and increased patient satisfaction. In situ threshold measurements can be used to determine required gain. The Widex Corporation uses an in situ threshold measurement strategy, called the Sensogram. Real-ear measurements determine if prescriptive gain targets have been achieved. Starkey Laboratories introduced an integrated real-ear measurement system in their hearing aids. Purpose: To determine whether the responses obtained using the Widex Sensogram were equivalent to those obtained using current clinical threshold measurement methods. To determine the accuracy of the Starkey IREMS™ (Integrated Real Ear Measurement System) in measuring RECD (real-ear to coupler difference) values compared to a dedicated real-ear measurement system. Research Design: A verification design was employed by comparing participant data measured from standard, benchmark equipment and procedures against new techniques offered by hearing-aid manufacturers. Study Sample: A total of 20 participants participated in this study. Ten participants with sensorineural hearing loss were recruited from the Ohio University Hearing, Speech, and Language Clinic participated in the first experiment. Ten participants with normal hearing were recruited from the student population at Ohio University participated in both experiments. The normal-hearing group had thresholds of 15 dB HL or better at the octave frequencies of 250–8000 Hz. The hearing-impaired group had thresholds of varying degrees and configurations with thresholds equal to or poorer than 25 dB HL three-frequency pure-tone average. Data Collection and Analysis: The order of measurement method for both experiments was counterbalanced. In Experiment 1, thresholds obtained via the Widex Sensogram were compared to thresholds obtained for each participant using a clinical audiometer and ER-3A insert ear phones. In Experiment 2, RECD values obtained via the Starkey IREMS were compared to RECD values obtained via the Audioscan Verifit™. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical analysis, and a Fisher's LSD (least significant difference) was used as a post hoc analysis tool. Results: A significant difference between Sensogram thresholds and conventional audiometric thresholds was found with the Sensogram method resulting in better threshold values at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 kHz for both groups. In Experiment 2, a significant difference between RECD values obtained by the Starkey IREMS and the Audioscan Verifit system was found with significant differences in RECD values found at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.5, 2.0, and 6.0 kHz. Conclusions: The Sensogram data differ significantly from traditional audiometry at several frequencies important for speech intelligibility. Real-ear measures are still required for verification of prescribed gain, however, calling into question any claims of shortened fitting time. The Starkey IREMS does perform real-ear measurements that vary significantly from benchmark equipment. These technologies represent a positive direction in prescribing accurate gain during hearing-aid fittings, but a stand-alone system is still the preferred method for real-ear measurements in hearing-aid fittings.

Patterns of Language Behavior in Children with Developmental Language Disorders

1975 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy M. Aram ◽  
James E. Nation
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Language Disorders ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Language Performance ◽  
Developmental Language Disorders ◽  
Factor I ◽  
Factor Ii ◽  
Language Behavior ◽  
Low Performance ◽  
Comprehension Deficit

Tests to measure comprehension, formulation, and repetition of certain phonologic, syntactic, and semantic aspects of language were administered to 47 children who had developmental language disorders. A factor analysis of the resultant scores indicated that three factors were present in the data. These factors are presented as six patterns of language performance, one for high loadings on the factor and one for low loadings. The six patterns are (1) repetition strength (Factor I, high); (2) nonspecific formulation-repetition deficit (Factor I, low); (3) generalized low performance (Factor II, high); (4) phonologic comprehension-formulation-repetition deficit (Factor II, low); (5) comprehension deficit (Factor III, high); and (6) formulation-repetition deficit (Factor III, low). Possible relations among these patterns and nonlinguistic measures (sex, race, age, nonverbal intelligence, socioeconomic status, and status of the peripheral speech mechanism) were investigated. Two of the patterns of language performance were found to be related significantly to age. On Factor II, the younger children tended to get high loadings (generalized low performance) while the older children tended to get low loadings (phonologic comprehension-formulation-repetition deficit).

ESTIMATES OF IMPRESSIONS BASED ON FREQUENCY OF BLINKING

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuko Omori ◽  
Yo Miyata
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
University Students ◽  
Impression Formation ◽  
Semantic Differential ◽  
Semantic Differential Scale ◽  
Japanese University

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of frequency of blinking on creating a personal impression. The subjects were 88 Japanese university students, 35 males and 53 females, who rated stimulus persons on a seven-point semantic differential scale. The stimulus persons, two males and two females, were presented on a 20-second video simulating various blink rates, i.e., 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 blinks/min. A factor analysis of the ratings yielded three factors, interpreted as Nervousness, Unfriendliness, and Carelessness. As the frequency of the stimulus persons'blinking increased, so did the tendency to rate them as more nervous and more careless. As for Unfriendliness, there was a U-shaped relation between the frequency of blinking and the impressions formed. Present results provide evidence that frequency of blinking plays an important role in impression formation. Further implications of the findings are discussed.

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