Abstract
Purpose: The perceived social stigma of wearing
amplification (i.e., hearing aid effect) on self and peer perception
in children with normal hearing (NH) from an urban public
school and children with hearing loss (HL) from a school for the
Deaf and hard of hearing was investigated. Method: Twenty-four
children participated in the study. Twelve children with NH and
12 children with HL, fitted with amplification, were surveyed
online. Participants were shown images of age-matched children
fitted with amplification and asked to answer questions which
targeted self and peer perception on items related to intelligence,
social acceptance, and perceived differences from those pictured
wearing behind-the-ear hearing aids or cochlear implants.
Results: A Fisher’s Exact Test revealed no significant differences
in children with HL (p>0.05) on self-perception of intelligence
or social acceptance of other children wearing amplification.
Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in children with
NH on items related to the social acceptance of and perceived
differences from their peers fitted with amplification, suggesting
the existence of the hearing aid effect in this group. Conclusions:
The stigma of wearing amplification in children relative to
differences in peer perception may exist among children with
NH in an urban public-school setting.