Hearing loss and hearing aid use are widely recognized as stigmatized conditions, with negative stereotypes surrounding both the impairment and the visible device. This social stigma is thought to influence hearing aid benefit and overall health-related quality of life (QOL), yet these relationships remain incompletely understood in adult populations spanning both middle and older age.

this ongoing cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study examines perceived stigma, hearing aid outcomes (measured via the IOI-HA), and health-related quality of life (EUROHIS-QOL) among adults aged 18–80 using hearing aids for at least six months. Participants are recruited from otolaryngology and audiology clinics and complete a face-to-face battery including a sociodemographic/clinical form, a 9-item stigma scale, the IOI-HA, and the EUROHIS-QOL. Preliminary analysis of the first 44 participants (target sample: 120–150) found no statistically significant correlations between stigma and hearing aid outcomes (r=0.07, p=0.665), stigma and quality of life (r=-0.18, p=0.237), or hearing aid outcomes and quality of life (r=0.14, p=0.376), though data collection is ongoing.

the objective of this presentation is to characterize the strength and direction of associations between perceived stigma, hearing aid outcomes, and quality of life in adult hearing aid users, and to discuss whether current null findings are better explained by sample size and cross-sectional design limitations or reflect a genuine absence of relationship — informing future clinical counseling practices around stigma management in hearing rehabilitation.

Understanding the impact of hearing aid use on vestibular function helps clarify potential consequences on balance performance, fall risk, and activities of daily living. Therefore, the positive effects of auditory amplification, auditory gain, and balance and quality of life should be considered holistically.