Table 5.

Thematic Analysis of Field Notes Taken by the Researcher During the Self-fitting Process

Theme	Example Notes
Assistance with device handling and insertion	Required assistance with insertion as earbuds kept falling out—ITE user Required assistance with inserting batteries—BTE user
Difficulties with smartphone usage	Participant owns Nokia and struggled using iPhone—BTE user Participant is not so comfortable with technology.—ITE user
Bluetooth connectivity issues	Required assistance with pairing and clicked “my earbuds are not flashing blue”—ITE user Required assistance with connectivity and prompt to click on circles—BTE user
Technical errors and retesting	Cloud server offline—ITE user App only recorded in situ test results for one ear or no results were recorded —BTE user
Family involvement	Daughter assisted a lot—ITE user Husband assisted—BTE user
User experience and feedback	Participant mentioned that his own voice echoes—ITE user Participant mentioned that the app’s text could be bigger (not the first to mention)—BTE user

ITE refers to earbud-style or completely-in-the-canal hearing aids and BTE refers to behind-the-ear or receiver-in-the-canal hearing aids.

App = application.