Impact of hearing aid usage on the quality of life of the older adult in KwaZulu-Natal.
Zahra Mansoor, Xoliswe Mchunu, Nkos'Kwanele Mthembu and 3 others
PMID 41773398WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults with hearing aids reported better daily functioning and social connections, but psychological changes were minimal.
Most struggled with device comfort or complex listening environments. Financial support through medical aid was the primary factor enabling consistent use.
Key findings
01Participants reported improvements in daily functioning and social interactions, but minimal changes in psychological well-being.
02Financial support via medical aid substantially reduced costs for fittings and follow-ups, supporting consistent hearing aid use.
03Some users experienced anxiety and frustration during adaptation, primarily linked to device performance issues.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included only eight participants from a single urban district in South Africa, limiting generalisability. All participants had medical aid or lived in retirement homes, meaning the findings do not reflect the experiences of older adults without financial support or those in rural settings. The cross-sectional nature of interviews captures perceptions at one point in time rather than tracking long-term adaptation.
Declared interests
The research received no specific funding from public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that hearing aid provision alone will improve psychological well-being or reduce isolation in all older adults. This study found minimal psychological change and highlighted that financial support was a key determinant of consistent use, meaning findings may not apply to patients without similar access to care.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →