“Something is just not right with my hearing”: early experiences of adults living with hearing loss

Pike, April; Moodie, Sheila; Parsons, Karen; Griffin, Anne; Smith-Young, Joanne; Young, Terry-Lynn; Mills, Leon; Barrett, Myrtle; Rowe, Leanna; Parsons, Marie J.; Kielley, Henry; Fleming, Michael P.

doi:10.1080/14992027.2021.1983656

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…While these are well established, we suggest they should be reframed as emotional work. In line with previous work, the emotional demands of treatment work, such as getting used to wearing hearing aids, new auditory sensations and implications for sense of self, were evident 14,27–29 . Less well‐researched is the psychological impact of audiometry testing and the onus on the individual to cope with feelings of anxiety.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…In line with previous work, the emotional demands of treatment work, such as getting used to wearing hearing aids, new auditory sensations and implications for sense of self, were evident. 14 , 27 , 28 , 29 Less well‐researched is the psychological impact of audiometry testing and the onus on the individual to cope with feelings of anxiety. Emotional burden is rarely elucidated in the burden of treatment theory.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘The burden is very much on yourself’: A qualitative study to understand the illness and treatment burden of hearing loss across the life course

Smith,

Pryce,

O'Connell

et al. 2024

Health Expectations

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IntroductionHearing loss is a chronic health condition that rises sharply with age. The way people respond to and cope with health conditions is influenced by their capacity to perform illness and treatment‐related work. The aim was to explore the cumulative burdens of living with hearing loss and the resources mobilised to ease the burdens.MethodsA qualitative design was used with semi‐structured interviews (online or in‐person) with participants recruited through audiology services and nonclinical services, such as lip‐reading classes. Forty‐six participants with hearing loss aged between 16 and 96 years were interviewed. An abductive approach, informed by May et al.'s burden of treatment theory, was used to analyse the data.ResultsThe illness burden involved participants working to make sense of their hearing loss, engaging in emotional work in response to changes in sound, social interactions and identity and coping with the daily frustrations required to communicate with others. Abandonment and uncertainty characterised the treatment burden; participants engaged in emotional work to adjust to hearing technology and deal with the uncertainty of how their hearing might progress. To ameliorate the burdens, participants drew on internal resources (psychological, health literacy, cognitive) and external resources (social support, financial, information, technology).ConclusionsThe workload of hearing loss appears largely devolved to the patient and is not always visible. Our work indicates the need to widen approaches in audiological care through the implementation of lifeworld‐led care, family‐centred care and peer support to build support for those with hearing loss.Patient or Public ContributionWe developed the project in consultation with members of the public who have lived experience of hearing loss recruited through Aston University and volunteer links to audiology services. We also consulted people more likely to be affected by hearing loss adults including adults with learning disabilities, older adults in residential care and people from South Asia (Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani communities). These individuals commented on the study aims, interview schedule and participant recruitment practices. One of our co‐authors (expert by experience) contributed to the development and interpretation of themes and preparation of the final manuscript.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%