Social-emotional well-being and adult hearing loss: clinical recommendations

• Published in: International journal of audiology 2024-06, Vol.ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), p.1-12
• Main Authors: Timmer, Barbra H. B., Bennett, Rebecca J., Montano, Joseph, Hickson, Louise, Weinstein, Barbara, Wild, Jane, Ferguson, Melanie, Holman, Jack A., LeBeau, Valeri, Dyre, Lisa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; audiological care; Correction of Hearing Impairment; Counseling; Emotions; Hearing; hearing loss; Hearing Loss - psychology; Hearing Loss - rehabilitation; Humans; Mental Health; Persons With Hearing Impairments - psychology; Persons With Hearing Impairments - rehabilitation; Quality of Life; Social-emotional; well-being
• ISSN: 1499-2027; 1708-8186
• DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2023.2190864

Aim: Best-practice in audiological rehabilitation takes a holistic client- and family-centred approach and considers hearing care in the context of personal well-being. Hearing loss not only impairs the ability to hear, but can also compromise the ability to communicate, thus negatively impacting both social and emotional well-being. Hearing care professionals play a key role in fostering their client's well-being. This paper aims to provide evidence-based recommendations to ensure inclusion of social-emotional well-being in audiologic rehabilitation clinical practice. Methods: A review of current research and expert opinion. Results: This guide proposes a 5-step plan which includes: identifying the client's social-emotional well-being; including family members in audiological rehabilitation; incorporating social-emotional needs and goals in an individualized management plan; relating identified hearing needs and goals to rehabilitation recommendations; and using counselling skills and techniques to explore and monitor social-emotional well-being. Each component of the 5-step plan is discussed and clinical considerations are presented. Conclusion: These comprehensive recommendations provide guidance to hearing care professionals looking to ensure clients' social-emotional well-being are considered throughout the rehabilitation journey.