https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2236-6495
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Abstract
Objective
Related to the hearing health journey, this study aimed to: (i) explore how empowerment manifests itself from individuals’ first awareness of hearing loss through to hearing aid fitting and then to becoming an active hearing aid user, (ii) identify points when the different dimensions of empowerment are most relevant, and (iii) conceptualise empowerment.
Design
A semi-structured interview study was conducted, followed by a template analysis of the data.
Study sample
Adult hearing aid users from Sweden (n = 8) and Australia (n = 10) who had worn hearing aids for between 6 and 36 months.
Results
The themes that emerged from the transcripts were knowledge, skills and strategies, participation, self-efficacy, and control.
Conclusions
This study conceptualises empowerment along the hearing health journey as the process through which individuals with hearing-related challenges acquire and use knowledge, skills, and strategies, and increase self-efficacy, participation, and the feeling of control of their hearing health care, hearing solutions, and everyday lives. There are not specific points along the hearing health journey where any dimension is uniquely relevant, instead, each dimension is a dynamic component at all stages.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Anja Kofoed Pedersen for her helpful contributions to the planning and analysis of this study.
Disclosure statement
The authors associated with National Acoustic Laboratories received financial support from WS Audiology. We have no other known conflicts of interest to disclose.