Abstract
Objective
To identify the approaches taken by audiologists to address their adult clients’ psychosocial needs related to hearing loss.
Design
A participatory mixed methods design. Participants generated statements describing the ways in which the psychosocial needs of their adult clients with hearing loss are addressed, and then grouped the statements into themes. Data were obtained using face-to-face and online structured questions. Concept mapping techniques were used to identify key concepts and to map each of the concepts relative to each other.
Study sample
An international sample of 65 audiologists.
Results
Ninety-three statements were generated and grouped into seven conceptual clusters: Client Empowerment; Use of Strategies and Training to Personalise the Rehabilitation Program; Facilitating Peer and Other Professional Support; Providing Emotional Support; Improving Social Engagement with Technology; Including Communication Partners; and Promoting Client Responsibility.
Conclusions
Audiologists employ a wide range of approaches in their attempt to address the psychosocial needs associated with hearing loss experienced by their adult clients. The approaches described were mostly informal and provided in a non-standardised way. The majority of approaches described were not evidence-based, despite the availability of several options that are evidence-based, thus highlighting the implementation gap between research and clinical practice.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Sonova AG, Switzerland and the Ear Science Institute Australia for providing funding for this project. The authors would like to thank Audiology Australia for assisting with participant recruitment and participants for their time.
Disclosure statement
RB, CB, JM, GS, RE, DG, AC, SB, LvL, MP, JEP, BW, MF, EH, GS and LH report no conflict of interest.
BT is employed by Sonova AG as a Senior Scientist.