The Experience of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a common chronic condition which is often poorly recognized but can have multiple negative impacts, not just on the lives of those directly affected, but also those living with them. People with impaired hearing may begin a long and uncertain journey involving a number of key stages, from emerging awareness and help-seeking, to diagnosis, adjustment, and self-evaluation. Based on a model of person-centered audiological rehabilitation, this book explains why it is important to understand both patients' own experiences, and those of their communication partners, over time. It focuses particularly on the human dynamics of hearing loss, exploring the broader consequences of hearing loss for the individual, family members, and wider society. In particular the book: - gives insight into the patients' and their communication partners' experiences and perspectives through clear and telling first-hand narrative accounts; - examines how people understand their own hearing loss, reflect on their experiences with hearing aids - both positive and negative - and evaluate treatment options; - considers the changes needed to conversations in order to include all communication partners, whether with impaired hearing or not; and - discusses consequences of hearing loss using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). With its explicit aim to increase awareness of the need to include the patient and close relatives in the process of rehabilitation, this new text makes an important contribution to further improve evidence-based practice in the field of audiological rehabilitation. An ideal text for audiology, ENT, and nursing students of all levels.

Vinaya Manchaiah is Jo Mayo Endowed Professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Lamar University, USA. He is also the co-founder of the not-for-profit and non-governmental organization Audiology India. Berth Danermark is Professor of Sociology in the School of Health and Medical Sciences at Örebro University, Sweden. He is the director of doctoral studies at the Swedish Institute for Disability Research.

Preface 1. Introduction 2. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and Hearing Loss 3. Journey of person with hearing loss 4. Communication partners' journey through their partners hearing loss 5. Pre-awareness: Coping communication difficulties without realising hearing loss 6. Awareness: Understanding and becoming aware of hearing loss 7. Movement: Making Steps to Seek Information, Help and Intervention 8. Diagnostics: Hearing Assessment and Decision Making 9. Rehabilitation: Learning and Adapting to New Methods 10. Self-Evaluation: Reflecting on the Experiences and if the Rehabilitation has made a Difference to Life Condition 11. Resolution - Part 1: (Re)capturing the Conversation 12. Resolution - Part 2: Continuing to Adapt and Live with Hearing Loss 13. Examples of the Journey through Hearing Loss 14. Practice Implications of Patient Journey Model