Hearing aid user guides: Suitability for older adults

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the content, design, and readability of printed hearing aid user guides to determine their suitability for older adults, who are the main users of hearing aids. Design: Hearing aid user guides were assessed using four readability formulae and a standardized tool to assess content and design (SAM - Suitability Assessment of Materials). Study sample: A sample of 36 hearing aid user guides (four user guides from nine different hearing aid manufacturers) were analysed. Results: Sixty nine percent of user guides were rated ʽnot suitable’ and 31% were rated ʽadequate’ for their suitability. Many scored poorly for scope, vocabulary, aspects of layout and typography, and learning stimulation and motivation. The mean reading grade level for all user guides was grade 9.6 which is too high for older adults. Conclusion: The content, design, and readability of hearing aid user guides are not optimal for older adults and thus may serve as a barrier to successful hearing aid outcomes for this population.

Key Words::

• Audiology
• health literacy
• hearing aid
• instructions
• readability
• patient education
• older adults

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the HEARing CRC, established and supported under the Cooperative Research Centres Program – an initiative of the Australian Government. We also thank Paul Bunn for his assistance in analysing the HA user guides.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.