MM205 - Utilization of Audiological Rehabilitation Interventions: Contextual Factors that Matter

Abstract:
This presentation is based on a qualitative study conducted in Sweden. Factors contributing to the utilization of audiological rehabilitation in everyday life will be discussed. The study aimed at investigating audiological rehabilitation interventions among adult hearing aid users with severe-to-profound hearing loss and contextual factors affecting the individual utilization of the rehabilitation. The results showed that hearing aids were indispensable however not enough for beneficial function in everyday life. Environmental factors such as support from significant others and individual factors such as individual prerequisites were necessary in order to utilize the audiological rehabilitation.

Summary:
Background
Previous research on audiological rehabilitation aimed for adults with severe-to-profound hearing loss have so far primarily been based on quantitative data and on technical interventions, particularly on cochlear implants. (e.g. Birman & Sanli, 2020; Ciorba et al., 2021). The majority of patients in Sweden with severe-to-profound hearing loss use hearing aids instead of cochlear implants (Hjaldahl et al, 2017; Turunen-Taheri, et al, 2019). It is therefore important that studies also focus on other audiological rehabilitation interventions than cochlear implants. It seems that the voices from adults with severe-to-profound hearing loss to a high extent are missing in the scientific literature. The intention with this presentation is to gain understanding of the importance of individual and environmental factors for the utilization of audiological rehabilitation interventions in everyday life. The presenter will discuss a qualitative study conducted in Sweden.

Aim
The purpose of the study that will be presented was twofold: 1) from a bio-psycho-social perspective investigate audiological rehabilitation interventions that adults hearing aid users with severe-to-profound hearing loss have taken part in, 2) and to explore contextual factors that affect the individual utilization of the audiological rehabilitation interventions.

Design
The study has an explorative inductive design with qualitative individual interviews. Participants were recruited from two Swedish regions. The inclusion criteria were the following: 1) age 18 or older, 2) PTA4 ≥70 dB on the better ear, 3) non-CI user, 4) sufficient Swedish language skills, i.e., able to sufficiently express and understand spoken Swedish. A total of 21 individuals were interviewed (17 men and 4 women, aged 33-88 years). The verbatim-transcribed interviews were analyzed with conventional content analysis.

Results
Four themes emerged from the data: managing hearing loss, own perception of hearing loss, life events and environmental aspects. The first theme, managing hearing loss, is about aspects that the participants expressed as important to handle their hearing loss in everyday life, such as hearing aids and assistive technical devices. Own perception of hearing loss addresses how personal characteristics influence everyday life. Life events capture other aspects in life that were expressed as affecting living with hearing loss. The fourth theme, environmental aspects, summarizes aspects in the environment that the participants experienced as hindering or facilitating for coping with hearing loss.

Conclusions
The results of the study indicate that hearing aids were considered indispensable, but not enough for beneficial functioning in everyday life. Environmental and individual factors are important in order to utilize the audiological rehabilitation interventions in everyday life. Professionals must also take individual aspects and environmental obstacles into consideration in the audiological rehabilitation process.