This study examined the influence of technology, demographic factors, and prefitting expectations, attitudes, and adjustment to
hearing loss on
hearing aid outcome. Clients obtaining new
hearing aids completed questionnaires measuring personal adjustment to
hearing loss, expectations of and attitudes toward
hearing aids, and
hearing aid benefit. Eighty-one percent of the 200 subjects completing the prefitting questionnaires returned questionnaires evaluating
hearing aid outcome. Factors affecting
hearing aid use, overall satisfaction, and benefit were investigated using regression analyses. Higher use time was associated with higher prefitting expectations and greater acceptance of
hearing loss. Greater benefit in easy and difficult listening situations was predicted by higher prefitting expectations. Multiple-memory
hearing aids produced higher satisfaction. Benefit was greater for multiple-memory, multiple-channel, and wide dynamic range compression
aids. Findings were consistent with previous studies showing positive outcomes for newer technologies but also showed that two subjective factors, prefitting
hearing aid expectations and acceptance of
hearing loss, significantly influenced
hearing aid outcome.