Experiences of hearing loss and views towards interventions to promote uptake of rehabilitation support among UK adults.
Crystal Rolfe, Benjamin Gardner
PMID 27379464WHAT IT FOUND
Most participants delayed seeking hearing support because they did not recognize their symptoms or feared stigma, not because of service barriers.
A national screening program and professional training were viewed as the most acceptable interventions.
Key findings
01Participants predominantly reported that their receiving support was delayed by failure to accurately appraise symptoms, rather than healthcare system factors.
02A national hearing screening programme was the most acceptable intervention, supported by 15 of 22 participants.
03Participants were reluctant to identify as having hearing loss due to associations with ageing and disability, often hiding hearing aids to avoid stigma.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample consisted only of people who had already sought help, so the views of those who continue to delay or avoid services were not captured. Participants were predominantly White British and well-educated, groups that typically seek help sooner, which may limit generalizability. Self-reported delays could not be verified and may have been underestimated. The interventions discussed were hypothetical and not tested in a real-world setting.
Declared interests
No specific funding source or conflicts of interest were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high acceptability of screening among these 22 participants as evidence that a national screening programme is clinically effective or cost-effective. This study reports on patient attitudes towards hypothetical ideas, not on the outcomes of any actual intervention.