The influence of nonaudiological variables on audiological rehabilitation outcomes.

The link between nonaudiological variables and outcomes measurement is explored. Hearing impairment can affect an individual's everyday communication in numerous ways. Both audiological and nonaudiological variables interact with each other to produce a unique predicament for each individual with hearing impairment. The nonaudiological variables that are addressed in this article include race/ethnicity, gender, age, personality, self-efficacy, and social support, as well as a number of other factors. Some of these variables, such as personality, have been found to exert more influence than audiological factors on audiological rehabilitation outcomes. The potential influence of each variable is discussed and directions for future research are provided.