Group rehabilitation of patients with acquired hearing impairment and their close relatives: Evaluation of short‐ and long‐term effects

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a two‐weeks full‐time group‐rehabilitation program designed for hearing‐impaired patients and their close relatives. Seventy‐six consecutive patients in employment age (mean = 51 years; SD = 9 years, R = 22–64 years) with subjective need for audiological rehabilitation were included in the program. Pure tone averages were 46 dB HL and 58 dB HL at the low and high frequencies in the best ear, respectively. The patients responded to visual analogue scales (VAS) and questionnaires, intended to measure “perceived handicap”, “social support”, “perceived negative attitudes”, “acceptance of hearing loss” and “communication strategies”, before and after the last group session. The forms were also sent to the study group by post four and six months after the program was terminated. No significant short‐term effects were found after the last group session, except that self‐rated handicap in family life (VAS) was increased (p = 0.028), probably due to the participants’ increased awareness of hearing‐related problems. Four months later, perceived negative attitudes from others were significantly reduced (p = 0.025), but self‐rated handicap in family life was still increased (p = 0.023). Six months later (long‐term effects), maladaptive strategies (e.g. guessing, pretending to hear and avoiding interactions) were significantly less often used (p = 0.036) and verbal strategies more frequently adopted (p = 0.018). This change of communication strategies might facilitate social participation and should therefore be seen as positive outcomes of a rehabilitation program.