Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

6-2026

Document Type

Doctoral Capstone Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Audiology

Program

Audiology

Advisor

Dorothy Neave-DiToro

Subject Categories

Disability Studies | Speech Pathology and Audiology

Keywords

Disability, hearing aid effect, Korean

Abstract

Background

Age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, is highly prevalent among older adults, yet hearing aid adoption remains low, in part due to concerns about stigma and negative social perceptions. This study aimed to examine whether attitudes towards disabilities influence perceptions of individuals wearing hearing aids among older Korean adults. It also explored the potential effects of cultural identity and the age of the individual wearing the hearing aid on these perceptions.

Methods

Ten participants completed the Attitudes and Perspectives on Persons with Disabilities (APPD) questionnaire and rated 8 different images of individuals (one younger male and one older male) across four hearing aid conditions using a 7-point Likert scale across multiple attributes. Correlational analyses were performed to examine relationships between APPD scores and mean attribute scores.

Results

Results revealed weak and inconsistent correlations between APPD scores and mean attribute scores across all conditions, with low coefficients of determination. No statistically significant differences were observed based on the age of the individual in the images or participants’ cultural identity. Although overall APPD scores suggested generally less favorable attitudes towards disabilities, it did not meaningfully predict perceptions of individuals wearing hearing aids.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that general attitudes towards disabilities do not predict participant’s perception of individuals wearing different configurations of hearing aids in this sample. Clinically, this may help address patient concerns regarding stigma. Clinicians can use counseling strategies that emphasize benefit of hearing aids, including improved communication, reduced listening effort, and enhanced overall quality of life to encourage acceptance and use. Limitations of this study include a limited sample size and potential participant fatigue. Future research with larger and more diverse samples is warranted to further explore these relationships.

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