Stigma: A negative and a positive influence on help-seeking for adults with acquired hearing loss

• Published in: International journal of audiology 2010-11, Vol.49 (11), p.804-814
• Main Authors: Southall, Kenneth, Gagné, Jean-Pierre, Jennings, Mary Beth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired hearing loss; Aged; Attitudes; Female; Hearing impaired people; Hearing impairment; Hearing Loss - psychology; Help seeking; Helpseeking; Humans; Incompetent; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Self-Help Groups; Social Stigma; Stigma; Stigmatization; Stress; Stress, Psychological
• ISSN: 1499-2027; 1708-8186
• DOI: 10.3109/14992027.2010.498447

Abstract There are stigmas associated with many chronic health conditions that emerge in adulthood. People who present manifestations of hearing loss are often perceived by others to be cognitively diminished, less able, and socially incompetent. In order to avoid being identified as a member of a stigmatized group, individuals with hearing loss may choose not to seek health services or fail to comply with recommended treatments. The purpose of this study was to better understand how stigma impacted upon the help-seeking activities of adults with an acquired hearing loss. Ten people who had hearing loss, and were members of peer-support groups participated in audio-recorded semi-structured interviews. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using thematic analyses. Analyses revealed that lasting decisions about hearing loss management were made following 'critical junctures', when the negative stress found in the respondent's social and physical environment far outweighed positive energy, or when the positive energy found in the respondent's environment far outweighed the negative stress. The time course development of these processes is described. Sumario Existen estigmas asociados con muchas condiciones crónicas de salud que aparecen en la edad adulta. La gente que presenta manifestaciones de pérdida auditiva a menudo son percibidas por los demás como disminuidos cognitivamente, menos capaces, y socialmente incompetentes. Para evitar ser identificado como un miembro de un grupo estigmatizado, los individuos con hipoacusia escogen no buscar ayuda en los servicios de salud o fallan en cumplir con los tratamientos recomendados. El propósito de este estudio fue entender mejor cómo el estigma impacta las actividades de búsqueda de ayuda de adultos con hipoacusias adquiridas. Diez personas con pérdida auditiva, que era miembros de grupos de apoyo a iguales, participaron de entrevistas semi-estructuradas, grabadas en audio. Se analizaron las transcripciones usando un análisis temático. Los análisis revelaron las decisiones duraderas sobre el manejo de la hipoacusia se realizaban luego de "encrucijadas críticas", cuando la tensión negativa encontrada en el ambiente social y físico del participante sobrepasaba la energía positiva, o cuando la energía positiva que se hallaba en el ambiente del participante sobrepasaba la tensión negativa. Se describe el desarrollo en el tiempo de estos procesos.