Patient's perceptions of presbycusis and associated tinnitus counselling practices within the KwaZulu-Natal province.
Kerusha Bhojraj, Vuyelwa Z Peter
PMID 36226975WHAT IT FOUND
Seven adults with age-related hearing loss and tinnitus liked their audiologist's kindness and one-to-one counselling.
They still could not explain their diagnosis or device, and five of seven reported no lifestyle adjustment counselling.
Key findings
01All seven participants reported positive perceptions of audiologists' counselling methods, yet all struggled to confidently explain their hearing loss and assistive devices.
02Five of seven participants did not report lifestyle changes to accommodate or adjust to life with tinnitus, and four of seven showed an inclination towards family counselling but none were given the option to bring a family member.
03None of the participants reported use of questionnaires or checklists during counselling to assess effectiveness, although all were positive about using tools.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Seven participants cannot represent all adults with presbycusis and tinnitus in KwaZulu-Natal or South Africa. All participants were literate, so views of people with lower literacy are missing. Only one participant was isiZulu-speaking, and most audiologists were English-speaking, so language and cultural experiences may be underrepresented. Interviews were telephonic during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have affected discussion of group or family counselling. The study reports patient perceptions, not audiologists' records or objective measures of counselling quality. Patients' views of audiologists' training and competence may reflect kindness and rapport rather than measured skill. One participant described not being involved in decision-making in the public sector, but the small sample cannot establish a clear public-private difference. No quantitative outcome of counselling was measured, so the study cannot show whether counselling improved quality of life.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read participants' positive satisfaction as proof that counselling was effective. The study reports perceptions from seven people, not measured counselling outcomes.