Audiological Rehabilitation for Facilitating Hearing Aid Use: A Review (original) (raw)
Related papers
BMJ Open, 2018
IntroductionUp to 30% of hearing aids fitted to new adult clients are reported to be of low benefit and used intermittently or not at all. Evidence suggests that additional interventions paired with service-delivery redesign may help improve hearing aid use and benefit. The range of interventions available is limited. In particular, the efficacy of interventions like the Active Communication Education (ACE) programme that focus on improving communication success with hearing-impaired people and significant others, has not previously been assessed. We propose that improved communication outcomes associated with the ACE intervention, lead to an increased perception of hearing aid value and more realistic expectations associated with hearing aid use and ownership, which are reported to be key barriers and facilitators for successful hearing aid use. This study will assess the feasibility of delivering ACE and undertaking a definitive randomised controlled trial to evaluate whether ACE ...
International Journal for the …, 2000
Hearing impairment may be regarded as a hidden disability in working life, only becoming visible in communication, collaboration and human interaction. The purpose of this study is to describe the reported quality of life of individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss, after their participation in counselling in an audiological rehabilitation program for hearing aid users. The method used was an in-depth interview. The results demonstrated that the counselling interventions had influenced attitudes to hearing impairment and had increased awareness of the hearing impairment and increased demands for more understanding on close relatives and friends. Furthermore, the study found that subjects gained new perspectives and felt more comfortable using a hearing aid. They were given more support, their self-confidence increased and they gained insight into their experienced tiredness. Their ability to use coping strategies in order to deal with their changed life situation was also increased. Implications for counselling are discussed.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 2014
Background: Previous research suggests that audiological rehabilitation for older adults could include group communication programs in addition to hearing aid fitting or as an alternative to hearing aid fitting for those people who do not wish to proceed with hearing aids. This pilot study was a first attempt to evaluate a Swedish version of such a program, Active Communication Education (ACE), which had been developed and previously evaluated in Australia .
BMJ Open, 2021
Objective To establish the acceptability and feasibility of delivering the Active Communication Education (ACE) programme to increase quality of life through improving communication and hearing aid use in the UK National Health Service. Design Randomised controlled, open feasibility trial with embedded economic and process evaluations. Setting Audiology departments in two hospitals in two UK cities. Participants Twelve hearing aid users aged 18 years or over who reported moderate or less than moderate benefit from their new hearing aid. Interventions Consenting participants (along with a significant other) were to be randomised by a remote, centralised randomisation service in groups to ACE plus treatment-as-usual (intervention group) or treatment-as-usual only (control group). Primary outcome measures The primary outcomes were related to feasibility: recruitment, retention, treatment adherence and acceptability to participants and fidelity of treatment delivery. Secondary outcome m...
An intervention to assist older persons adjust to hearing aids
2012
Hearing loss affects millions of Americans each year, especially targeting older Americans. As many as 38% of elders aged 65-75 years are affected and these numbers rise rapidly with more than 42% affected by 80 years of age. The rise in the numbers of older persons in the United States makes hearing loss the third most common chronic illness in the US today. Of these persons, approximately 30% choose to purchase hearing aids, but an astounding 47.2% of these individuals are unable to adjust to the hearing aids in order to wear them daily. Ambient sounds and physical discomfort from the presence of the device in the ear cause individuals to never wear the devices or stop wearing them after a short time. This dissertation focused on an intervention to assist those older persons who have purchased hearing aids, but are not wearing them, adjust to those aids with the goal of improving hearing aid satisfaction and hours of hearing aid use. A one group pre/posttest design was implemented on 15 individuals between the ages of 75-85 years of age who had previously failed to adjust to hearing aids. The Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP) and hours of hearing aid use time were the primary outcome variables. This intervention study occurred over a four week period of time, with weekly face-to-face meetings with participants. Findings demonstrated that the intervention was feasible to administer in a group of community dwelling older persons (aged 75-85 years). All 15 participants completed the entire intervention, meeting each of 4 times with the researcher over a four week period. Forty percent of volunteers later declined to participate and 48% were turned away due to the small size of this pilot study. An overall increase of hearing aid use time was between 1-9 hours per day. A Wilcoxin signed rank test was performed (p=<0.0001). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledging those who were so supportive, encouraging and patient throughout my doctoral program is an essential process in this path to discovery. I am eternally grateful to my dissertation committee, especially my advisor Kathy Clark, but also Meg Wallhagen, Lioness Ayres, Sue Gardner, Janet Specht, and Jacob Oleson. I have had wonderful mentoring experiences with each of you and truly appreciate all the time you give to your students, which is often above and beyond the call of duty. My research participants were wonderful individuals who wanted to "hear" better and work hard at those efforts. Others who assisted me with intervention development, revisions, and relentless writing support include Roger and Jan Rittmer. You both were great: Jan, for all of your hardnosed writing advice and corrections; Roger, for your down to earth suggestions and easy going manner. This booklet could not have been developed with the support of these key individuals. My family, Ryan (my husband), my children (Cole and Brooke), as well as my parents and siblings, each of you put up with me missing events or turning down offers to be with the family at different times over the past five years; "Mom's got homework" was a common statement. Or you would just be there while I worked, cooking, watching the kids for me, and other things that made a huge difference. This could not have happened without your relentless support as well. I love you all, thank you, once more. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .
International Journal of Audiology, 2019
Objective: This clinical note describes the Individualised-Active Communication Education (I-ACE) programme designed to improve problem solving and self-management in adults with hearing impairment. Design: The I-ACE was offered to adult clients seeking help for the first time and effects were measured for participants using self-report questionnaires: the Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (goal attainment), the Hearing Handicap Questionnaire (hearing disability), and the International Outcome Inventory-Alternative Interventions (outcomes) immediately after programme completion and 3 months later. Participants also provided qualitative feedback about I-ACE. Study sample: Twenty-three participants completed I-ACE, with 22 completing all self-report questionnaires and 23 participants providing qualitative feedback. Results: The participants reported positive outcomes and goal attainment, but no change in hearing disability post-programme. The effects were maintained 3 months later. Qualitative feedback indicated that I-ACE supported participants in recognising and increasing awareness of their hearing difficulties and in developing potential solutions to these difficulties. Participants also enjoyed the opportunity to involve communication partners. Conclusion: I-ACE is an appropriate option for adults with hearing impairment who wish to become more aware of their hearing difficulties and how to solve them.
An Evaluation of Motivational Interviewing for Increasing Hearing Aid Use: A Pilot Study
Journal of The American Academy of Audiology, 2018
Background: Motivational interviewing (MI) has been used in consultation settings to motivate hearing aid users to increase hearing aid usage. However, the effect of MI on those who use their hearing aids only rarely or not at all has not been explored. Purpose: The aims of this pilot study were to evaluate the effect of MI counseling with elderly hearing aid recipients found to have low hearing aid use at a six-month follow-up appointment and to describe clients' subjective assessments of their perceived need for hearing aids three months after MI counseling. Research Design: The study had a within-subjects pretest-posttest design. Study Sample: Forty seven hearing aid recipients who had used their new hearing aids, an average of ,90 min/day, were recruited at a follow-up appointment six months after hearing aid fitting. Intervention: Thirty minutes of MI counseling was provided at the six-month follow-up appointment. If needed, hearing aid adjustments and technical support were also provided. Data Collection and Analysis: The effect of MI counseling in combination with adjustments and technical support was assessed in relation to datalogged hearing aid use, which was assessed immediately before (at the six-month follow-up) and three months after (at the nine-month follow-up) the intervention. Hearing aid experiences were also assessed three months after MI. Results: Thirty seven participants (79%) returned for the nine-month follow-up visit and had modest but significant increases in datalogged hearing aid use in the three months following MI counseling. Of the 37 participants who returned, 51% had increased their hearing aid use to at least 2 h/day after the MI counseling. Most of the 37 participants who attended the nine-month follow-up reported increased need for (59%) or increased benefit and contentment with (57%) their hearing aid three months after MI; these participants also had significantly higher datalogged hearing aid use following MI. Conclusions: These findings suggest that follow-up appointments using MI counseling in conjunction with technical support may be useful for increasing hearing aid usage among low-users, and a randomized controlled trial is warranted.