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Abstract
The results of several studies on hearing aid use in the Welsh population were considered to investigate some general principles on determinants of such use within the general populations of developed countries. Overall hearing aid possession and use were not found to have changed significantly over the past 18 years, remaining at 4 per cent having obtained hearing aids and 3 per cent using them. The possession figures were consistent across all methodologies used. Higher hearing aid use in the post-industrial valleys (in which the traditional industries of coal mining and steel production had disappeared) was explained entirely by a higher level of reported hearing difficulties there. In all populations, less than 20 per cent of those reporting difficulties possessed hearing aids. Whether a hearing aid had been obtained free of charge from the National Health Service or purchased privately did not influence whether it was still used. It was concluded that an effort to improve the acceptability of hearing aids and reduce their stigma is required.
Key Words Hearing aids Wales Prevalence Hearing disability
Sumario
Los resultados de varios estudios sobre el uso de auxiliares auditivos en la poblacion galesa han sido considerados para investigar algunos principios generales sobre los determinantes de tal uso dentro de poblaciones generales en paises desarrollados. Se encontro que la posesion general de auxiliares auditivos y uso no ha cambiado significativamente en los ultimos 18 anos, permaneciendo en un 4 por ciento que han recibido un audifono y un 3 por ciento que continua utilizandolo. La cifras de posesion son consistentes en todas las metodologias usadas. Un uso de auxiliares auditivos mas alto en los valles post-industriales (en donde han desaparecido las industries tradicionales de mineria de carbon y produccion de acero) fue explicado enteramente por un nivel mas alto de alteraciones auditivas reportadas alli. En todas las poblaciones, menos del 20 por ciento de aquellos que reportan dificultades para escuchar, poseian auxiliares auditivos. El haber obtenido su auxiliar auditivo de los Servicios Nacionales de Salud en forma gratuita o de haberlo comprado privadamente no influencio el hecho de estar o no aun en uso. Se concluyo que se requiere un esfuerzo para mejorar la aceptabilidad de los auxiliares auditivos y para mejorar su estigma.
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