Abstract:

This study explored the use of assistive technology by noinstitutionalised older persons with hearing impairment, who were considered to be at risk for needing assistive devices. 35 individual inteviews were conducted seeking information on the need for amd current use of assistive devices. Findings confirm that older persons with hearing impairments are assistive device users averaging 11.5 devices per user. While subjects used hearing devices they used more devices related to physical disabilities than any other category of device. This population has a high rate of dissatisfaction with their devices (almost 1 in 3 devices used) and much of this dissatisfaction is directed at hearing devices.