Determining hearing aid preferences and user satisfaction according to geographic regions in türkiye

The aim of this study is to determine hearing aid preferences and user satisfaction across different geographical regions in Turkey. This descriptive and cross-sectional study consisted of a sample of 154 hearing aid users residing in Turkey's seven geographical regions. Data were collected using the Hearing Aid User Information Form and the Turkish version of the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA-TR). Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, median, and quartiles were calculated. Depending on the distribution of the data, the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for hypothesis testing. For advanced post-hoc analyses, LSD and Games-Howell tests were applied. A significance level of p<0.05 was adopted. Participants' hearing aid preferences were examined based on their geographical regions. Although the distribution of device types differed between regions, this variation was not statistically significant. Behind-the-ear (BTE) devices were the most commonly preferred across all regions, especially in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. Receiver-in-canal (RIC) devices were more frequently used in the Black Sea region, while completely-in-canal (CIC) devices were the least preferred overall. A majority of the participants (67.5%) reported ease of use as their primary reason for choosing a specific device. Additionally, 33.8% of the participants stated that the region in which they live influenced their hearing aid preferences. The average score on the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA-TR) was 31.61 ± 3.45, indicating a generally high level of user satisfaction. It was found that demographic and environmental variables played a determining role in hearing aid satisfaction, with economic status, region of residence, and climatic conditions causing significant differences in satisfaction levels. Furthermore, the type of device and the importance placed on technological features were also identified as key factors influencing user satisfaction. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that hearing aid preferences and satisfaction levels among users in Turkey vary significantly according to geographical and socio-economic factors. The findings may contribute to the development of targeted strategies that are sensitive to regional needs and serve as a guide for shaping policies for both hearing aid manufacturers and healthcare providers.