Audiologists’ practice and perspectives on rehabilitation in individuals with minimal-mild degree of hearing loss: a questionnaire-based survey

Abstract

Abstract Background The study aimed to understand the perspectives of audiologists working in different audiological setups regarding the fitting of amplification devices for individuals with minimal-mild hearing loss which cannot be corrected or sensorineural in nature. The study employed a questionnaire-based survey research design conducted in three phases: questionnaire development, obtaining responses from audiologists, and analyzing the responses. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: demographic details, audiologist's practice, and audiologist's opinion, with a total of 22 questions. The responses from audiologists were collected through an online survey distributed via WhatsApp groups, email, and Telegram. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the percentage of responses for each question. Results The findings shed light on the current practices and opinions of audiologists. The study found that audiologists perceived the assessment of self-handicap level as aiding in better counseling, understanding motivation level, and making decisions about amplification. Conclusions The findings of the study provide insights into the current practices and perspectives of audiologists in offering services to individuals with minimal-mild hearing loss.

Keywords

• Audiologists’ perspectives
• Rehabilitation
• Minimal-mild degree of hearing loss
• Amplification devices
• Self-reporting questionnaire