Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
6-2026
Document Type
Doctoral Capstone Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Audiology
Program
Audiology
Advisor
Barbara Weinstein
Subject Categories
Communication Sciences and Disorders | Social Psychology | Speech Pathology and Audiology
Keywords
hearing aid effect, hearing aid adoption, hearing aid design, implicit association test, implicit attitudes, stigma consciousness
Abstract
Hearing aid stigma remains a significant barrier to treatment uptake, with device visibility frequently identified as a contributing factor. Although prior research has examined visibility in relation to hearing aid size and style, the role of color as a distinct aesthetic dimension has not been systematically investigated. The present study assessed whether hearing aid color affects implicit and explicit attitudes toward hearing aids and whether such evaluations differ across contexts. Twenty-six adults who were not current hearing aid users participated in an online quantitative multi-method study consisting of an Implicit Association Test (IAT) and self-report questionnaires. The IAT measured implicit evaluative associations toward conspicuous (bright) and inconspicuous (neutral) hearing aid colors through reaction-time based categorization, while self-report measures assessed explicit attitudes toward device visibility, stigma consciousness, and perceived hearing difficulty. Results revealed a small but consistent directional implicit preference for neutral-colored hearing aids, indicating more favorable implicit associations with inconspicuous hearing aid colors. Participants also reported more negative explicit attitudes toward conspicuous color when associated with hearing aids. In contrast, the same aesthetic features were viewed more favorably when presented in a non–hearing aid context, suggesting that negative evaluations were specific to hearing aids rather than conspicuous color itself. A modest inverse relationship was observed between implicit and explicit attitudes, further demonstrating that self-reported attitudes may not fully capture underlying implicit perceptions. Collectively, these findings suggest that hearing aid color is a meaningful component of visibility and may play a role in the hearing aid effect. These findings carry clinical implications for audiologic counseling and hearing aid selection, as aesthetic preferences may shape concerns about social judgment and willingness to pursue amplification.
Recommended Citation
Ames, Orly R., "Implicit Attitudes Toward Hearing Aid Visibility: Conspicuous versus Inconspicuous Hearing Aid Colors" (2026). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/6669
