Hearing loss and stigma
Özlem Saatci1, Burcu Polat2, Nihat Çakır1
1İstanbul Anadolu Kuzey Kamu Hastaneler Birliği Üsküdar Devlet Hastanesi, Kbb Hastalıkları Birimi İstanbul,Türkiye
2Medipol Üniversitesi Hastanesi Nöroloji Anabilim Dalı,İstanbul,Türkiye
Keywords: Hearing aid, hearing loss, stigma.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the stigma associated with hearing loss and hearing aid.
METHODS: A total of 35 patients were examined with structured forms, who were admitted to the Ear Nose and Throat outpatient clinic between September 2015 and March 2016 with hearing loss and were recommended to use hearing aid but refused to do so.
RESULTS: Patients with hearing loss believed that they had more serious priorities than their hearing impairment (57.1%). The most important barriers associated to stigma in the adoption of hearing aid were the thoughts of “hearing aid is noticeable from outside” (45.7%) and the hearing aid makes the user look “old” (37.1%) and “disabled” (45.7%).
CONCLUSION: Stigma is one of the important barriers of hearing aid adoption. Psychosocial support is necessary for the patients who seek help for their hearing loss. Social awareness should be increased about stigma associated to hearing loss and the media should help to disrupt the stigma barrier.