Audiological approaches to address the psychosocial needs of adults with hearing loss: perceived benefit and likelihood of use

To explore the perceived benefit and likely implementation of approaches used by audiologists to address their adult clients’ psychosocial needs related to hearing loss. Adults with hearing loss and audiologists completed separate, but related, surveys to rate their perceived benefit and also their likely use of 66 clinical approaches (divided over seven themes) that aim to address psychosocial needs related to hearing loss. A sample of 52 Australian adults with hearing loss, and an international sample of 19 audiologists. Overall, participants rated all of the approaches highly on both benefit and likelihood of use; the highest ranked theme was Providing Emotional Support. Cohort comparisons showed that audiologists ranked the approaches significantly higher than did adults with hearing loss. Overall, participants ranked the themes higher on benefit than on the likelihood to use scales. Adults with hearing loss and audiologists recognise the importance of approaches that address the psychosocial impacts of hearing loss in audiological rehabilitation. However, both groups placed slightly greater value on the internal-based approaches (the clients own emotional response, empowerment, and responsibility), and slightly less emphasis on the external-based approaches (being supported by communication partners, support groups or other health professionals).

本研究旨在探究听力学从业者（audiologists）为满足成年听损患者因听力损失产生的社会心理需求，所采用的各类干预手段的感知益处与实际实施可能性。成年听损患者与听力学从业者分别完成了相互关联但彼此独立的问卷，对自身感知到的干预益处及实际使用意愿进行评分；本次评估涉及66种临床干预手段，被划分为7大主题，均旨在解决听力损失带来的社会心理问题。本次研究的样本包含52名澳大利亚成年听损患者，以及19名来自全球范围的听力学从业者。总体而言，所有参与者在益处评分与使用意愿评分维度上，均对所有干预手段给出了较高评价；其中排名最高的主题为「提供情感支持」。队列对比分析显示，听力学从业者对各类干预手段的评分显著高于成年听损患者。整体而言，参与者对各主题的益处评分均高于其在使用意愿量表上的评分。成年听损患者与听力学从业者均认可，在听力学康复中，针对听力损失社会心理影响的干预手段具有重要价值。不过，两组参与者均更侧重基于个体内部的干预手段（如患者自身的情绪调节、自我赋能与责任意识培养），而对基于外部的干预手段（如借助沟通伙伴、支持团体或其他医疗专业人员提供支持）的重视程度稍低。