An Internet Survey of Individuals With Hearing Loss Regarding Assistive Listening Devices

An Internet survey of individuals with hearing loss was conducted to determine their use of assistive listening devices for face-to-face conversation and, while part of an audience, their satisfaction with assistive listening devices, their interest in the concept of a universal assistive listening device receiver, and their interest in receiving audiologic information and services through the Internet. The 423 respondents who used assistive listening devices found them to be of significant benefit across a range of listening situations. Most respondents were open to the idea of purchasing a personal device that could work both with hearing aids and a range of transmission media. Probably because of the sampling bias inherent in an Internet survey, respondents were inclined to choose Internet-based and peer-based sources of information, and made many suggestions for both improving assistive listening devices and for improving information available about them by using the Internet.