How is �hearing loss� and �hearing aid(s)� represented in the United States newspaper media? (Preprint)

Abstract

News media plays an important role in formulating peoples knowledge and opinions about various aspects including health.

The current study explored how “hearing loss” and “hearing aid(s)” are represented in United States newspaper media.

A cross-sectional study design was selected to analyze publicly available newspaper media data. The data sets were generated from the database, the U.S. Major Dailies by ProQuest by searching the key words for newspapers published during 1990-2017. Cluster analysis (i.e., text pattern analysis) and Chi square tests were performed using Iramuteq software.

The hearing loss data set had 1,527 texts (i.e., articles). The cluster analysis resulted in seven clusters, which were named as: (1) causes and consequences (26.1%); (2) early identification and diagnosis (9%); (3) health promotion and prevention (22.1%); (4) recreational noise exposure (10.4%); (5) prevalence (14.3%); (6) research and development (12.4%); and (7) cognitive hearing science (5.6%). The hearing aid(s) data set had 2,667 texts. The cluster analysis resulted in eight clusters, which were named as: (1) signal processing (20.2%); (2) insurance (8.9%); (3) prevalence (12.4%); (4) research and development (5.4%); (5) activities and relation (16.2%); (6) environment (13.8%); (7) innovation (12%); and (8) wireless and connectivity (11.1%). Time series analysis of clusters in both “hearing loss” and “hearing aid(s)” data sets indicated that the change in pattern of information presented in newspaper media during 1990-2016 (e.g., cluster 7 focusing on cognitive hearing science in hearing loss data set emerging only since the year 2012 and growing rapidly).

The text pattern analysis showed that the U.S. newspaper media focuses on a range of issues when considering “hearing loss” and “hearing aid(s),” and the pattern or trends change over time. The study results can be helpful for hearing healthcare professionals to understand what presuppositions society in general may have as the media has the ability to influence societal perception and opinions.