THE EFFECTS OF BEHAVIOR TYPE AND ANGER PARAMETERS ON HEARING AID SATISFACTION IN HEARING AID USERS

Introduction: Hearing loss is a very common disorder in the elderly population. The purposes of this study were to compare scores on the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids in subjects with hearing aids under and over the age of 65, and also to examine the effect of Type A behavior and anger profile on International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids scores in older adults. Materials and Method: In this study there were two groups, consisting of 64 subjects between the ages of 40 to 85, fitted with hearing aids. The first group (Group I) included subjects aged >65 and the second group (Group II) included subjects aged 65. To determine behavior types and anger parameters, all subjects in both groups were evaluated on the Escala Retiro de Patron de Conducta Tipo A scale and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Satisfaction with hearing aid was evaluated using the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids questionnaire. Behavior types, anger parameters and satisfaction with hearing aid were compared statistically. Results: Averages of International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids scores for Group I and Group II were 28.8 +/- 5.6 and 29.0 +/- 6.6, respectively. 56% of subjects in Group I and 53% of subjects in Group II had type B behavior. International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids, behavior types and anger parameters were analyzed between the two groups, and no statistically significant relation was found (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to this study, the types of behavior and/or aging have no significant effect on hearing aid satisfaction.