Background: Hearing aids are the primary intervention for hearing loss, yet disparities in use persist, impacting user experiences. Limited research has examined how expectations and perceived value for money influence these experiences, particularly through theoretical models such as the Health Belief Model (HBM).

Purpose: This study explored how outcome expectations and perceived value for money shape adult hearing aid users’ experiences, framed within the HBM.

Research Design: A qualitative descriptive design was used with semi-structured interviews and content analysis.

Study Sample: Thirty-five adult hearing aid users (new and experienced; mean age = 67.2 years) were recruited from the Hearing Tracker website.

Results: The Expectations domain included three categories with twelve sub-categories reflecting fulfilled and unfulfilled experiences, while the Perceived value for money domain comprised five categories with ten sub-categories capturing both contributors and limiters. Participants described perceived benefits including improved hearing, greater environmental awareness, and device customization as important contributors to fulfilled expectations and greater perceived value for money. Self-efficacy was evident among users with realistic expectations, who described confidence in their ability to manage hearing aids and reported that expectations were met. In contrast, perceived barriers such as device limitations, background noise, and physical fit challenges were described in accounts of unfulfilled expectations and reduced hearing aid use. Affordability also reflected perceived barriers, with some participants describing hearing aids as a worthwhile investment, while others described financial burden due to high costs and limited insurance coverage.

Conclusions: Framed by the HBM, perceived benefits and self-efficacy align with fulfilled expectations and higher perceived value for money, while performance, fit, and financial barriers undermine them. Focused expectation management, skills training, and affordability strategies can improve outcomes and sustained use.

Clinical Implications: Integrate counselling-based intervention aligned with HBM constructs during pre-fitting care to set accurate expectations, build self-efficacy for device management, and address performance and affordability barriers. Tailored counselling and financing support could enhance positive experiences and long-term use.