Experiences and expectations of hard-of-hearing students who use hearing aids

Studies on hard-of-hearing students who use hearing aids as a medium of learning in post-secondary education are scarcely investigated in the Global South. Most previous studies have focused on elderly hearing-aid users in the Global North rather than educational settings. This phenomenological study explored the experiences and expectations of four hard-of-hearing students using hearing aids at the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. Findings revealed both perceived benefits and challenges associated with hearing-aid use, including communication, quality of life, cost of hearing aids, and public perceptions of hearing-aid users. The study concludes that the expectations of hard-of-hearing students are not fully met because of limited societal understanding of disability, inadequate implementation of institutional policies, and barriers within the learning environment.