Currently hearing loss affects one in six Australians. The prevalence of hearing loss is age-related, rising from 1% for people under the age of 15 years to 75% for those over 70 years. Given the aging population, it is projected that by 2050, one in four Australians will have some form of hearing loss. Hearing loss not only impacts negatively on the social and emotional wellbeing of the hearing impaired, but also has detrimental effects on the Australian economy. The Listen Hear! Report (a study by Access Economics, commissioned by CRC HEAR and Vicdeaf) identified that the total economic burden of hearing loss to Australia is $23 billion per annum ($11.75 billion is a direct financial cost and $11.3 billion is attributed to disability and lost well-being). Hence, there is an ongoing need to improve hearing health management and to effectively promote hearing loss prevention.

Despite rapid technological advancements and innovation in hearing devices, uptake of devices has been limited. Estimates indicate that only one in every five people who could benefit is actually using either a hearing aid or cochlear implant. Prior research has identified a number of factors that impede hearing device adoption, including:

• high cost of purchase and/or maintenance;
• social stigma associated with device visibility;
• limitations of the device (i.e. cannot be used in water, for sports activities and whilst sleeping);
• negative attitudes towards devices (e.g. perceptions that devices do not perform well in noise); and
• poor device fit.

However, less is known about the contribution of hearing remediation practices and professional care provided by medical professionals along the hearing health management lifecycle (e.g. general practitioners, audiologists, ENT specialists) to non-user adoption.