Escaping a silent world: profound hearing loss, cochlear implants and household interaction

Abstract

For some people with profound hearing loss, cochlear implants offer a way back to patterns of communication that most of us take for granted. Travel, shopping and work contexts are largely dependent on the ability to recognize and respond to speech. This study examined implant user and partner perspectives on problems and coping strategies. The aim was to map the experiences of adults and their hearing partners living with deafness; and the changes brought about by cochlear implant use. Information was gathered by means of recorded joint interviews in a semi‐structured form with implant users and their partners. Interview themes including social isolation, employment difficulties and loss of confidence emerged as main difficulties prior to implantation. All participants were positive regarding the use of cochlear implants and, after implantation, benefits accrued in communication and social interaction. Provision of multidisciplinary support and consumer information for severe/profoundly hearing impaired adults was seen as problematic. Sample size – six couples – reflected the limited number of adult cochlear implant operations performed in Scotland. However, the results indicate their interactional experiences to be worthy of further investigation on a larger scale.

Factors Associated With Third-Party Disability in Spouses of Older People With Hearing Impairment

“…This is consistent with other research findings suggesting that hearing difficulties contribute to interpersonal and emotional problems (Hétu et al 1993;Lormore & Stephens 1994;Stephens et al 1995;Brooks et al 2001;Anderson & Noble 2005). Another study of adult cochlear implant users and their spouses found that hearing difficulties limited the couples' social life and had an effect on their marital relationship (Ross & Lyon 2006), with spouses in this study also taking on additional responsibilities for their partners, including that of being carer or interpreter. They found higher relationship satisfaction in couples that made fewer negative attributions to the character of the person with the hearing impairment.…”

“…Research has shown that as a result of hearing difficulties, family members, and in particular, spouses often take on additional responsibilities, and family roles are altered (Hétu et al 1988;Hallberg & Barrenäs 1993;Morgan-Jones 2001;Ross & Nerina Scarinci, Linda Worrall, and Louise Hickson Communication Disability Centre, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia. Lyon 2006; Yorgason et al 2007;Scarinci et al 2008).…”

The Effects of Hearing Impairment in Older Adults on Communication Partners: A Systematic Review

“…CPs can also experience increased stress when serving as the "ears" of the person who is HOH (Hétu et al, 1988). Moreover, within a marriage, profound hearing loss can lead to the normal-hearing partner adopting additional responsibilities and becoming an interpreter and caregiver (Ross, 2007). Denial of hearing impairment by the person who is HOH can result in conflict and even crisis within a couple, highlighting the importance of acknowledging the disability (Armero, 2001).…”

Family Quality of Life Following Early Identification of Deafness

“…Possible explanations for lower satisfaction scores in accessing support from local agencies include limited availability of preferred options, educational supports, and service providers with specialized training. The importance of a variety of informational supports has been underscored in several recent studies (Most & Zaidman-Zait, 2003;Ross & Lyon, 2007;Zaidman-Zait, 2007). In Most and Zaidman-Zait (2003), 22.7% of the parents surveyed reported that they lacked information on communication, and 36.4% reported that they lacked technical information.…”

“…This finding coincides with Nikolopoulos, Lloyd, Mphil, and O'Donoghue (2001), in which 98% of parents indicated that their child's outcomes after cochlear implantation met or surpassed their expectations. There is a large body of literature documenting improvements in speech perception, speech production, and general language skills following cochlear implantation (Bohnert, Spitzlei, Lippert, & Keilmann, 2007;Kirk, Miyamoto, Ying, Perdew, & Zuganellis, 2003;Ross & Lyon, 2007;Sharma, Dorman, Spah, & Todd, 2002;Zwolan et al, 2004).…”