Using Ecological Momentary Analysis to explore stigma experiences in the real world for adults with acquired hearing loss

Objective: The aim of this study was to use Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to capture how stigma-induced identity threat is experienced by adults with hearing loss and how they respond to such threats in daily life. Design and study sample: Twenty adults with hearing loss from 53 to 88 years (mean age of 69.4 years) completed a range of demographic and stigma questionnaires in the laboratory and, over a two-week period, answered daily EMA surveys. Results: A total of 633 EMA surveys were collected. Five participants reported 13 listening events in which they experienced stigma. These events were typically when conversing with family or friends who were aware of the adults’ hearing loss. Conclusions: The number of individual stigma experiences captured by EMA were low, when viewed across a large number of social interactions. However, as a group, a quarter of the participants in this study experienced stigma over a two-week period, typically from others close to them. This suggests that stigma experiences may be a regular occurrence for some adults with hearing loss.