Table 3.

Inductive thematic analysis of participant (n = 18) responses to an open-ended question 45 days post fitting on perceptions of others’ treatment towards them since hearing aid fitting.

Themes	Frequency	Example quotes
Did people treat you any differently since you have a hearing aid?
Positively	5	‘People respond positively to the fact that I wear HAs. They notice that I respond more and quicker than before. They previously thought that I was unfriendly. They did not realise that I could not hear.’
Same as before hearing aids	9	‘No. No one has even noticed the hearing aids.’
With curiosity/interest	4	‘Yes. People in the street would notice and ask about the hearing aids. Many did not know what it was, so I used it as an opportunity to educate on what it is and why I wear them.’