Title: Hearing enhancement technologies and issues of self-management: a case study

Authors: Ronald C. Beckett

Addresses: Swinburne University of Technology, Cnr Wakefield and William Streets, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia

Abstract: It is estimated that a significant proportion of the population will experience some degree of hearing difficulty, particularly later in life. But only about 25% seek technology assistance, generally in the form of a hearing aid. Some that seek help may reject such technology at different stages of potential uptake. Social, technological and cost barriers are cited. One approach to achieving better outcomes considered in this paper is to support patient self-management via the internet, and a case study of one company combining this concept with a bundle of advanced technologies is presented. What is learned from the case study is considered in relation to a health self-management model, a technology acceptance model and a business model. Each model helps to provide insights into the socio-technical issues involved, but each model on its own only provides a partial view, leading to a suggested need to adopt multiple viewpoints.

Keywords: audiology; telemedicine; innovation; entrepreneurship; socio-economic norms; continuous learning; technology marketing; business models.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTMKT.2017.089648

International Journal of Technology Marketing, 2017 Vol.12 No.3, pp.252 - 273

Received: 01 Jul 2016
Accepted: 30 Jan 2017
Published online: 05 Feb 2018 *

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