‘The burden is very much on yourself’: A qualitative study to understand the illness and treatment burden of hearing loss across the life course

• Published in: Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy 2024-06, Vol.27 (3), p.e14067-n/a
• Main Authors: Smith, Sian K., Pryce, Helen, O'Connell, Georgina Burns, Hussain, Saira, Shaw, Rachel, Straus, Jean
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Audiology; Chronic illnesses; Communication; Coping; Cost of Illness; Emotions; Family centered care; Female; Females; Health literacy; Hearing; Hearing aids; Hearing loss; Hearing Loss - psychology; Hearing Loss - therapy; Hearing protection; Humans; illness burden; Illnesses; Information technology; Interviews; Interviews as Topic; Learning disabilities; Learning disabled people; Life course; life course perspective; Lip reading; Lipreading; Listening; Male; Mental health; Middle Aged; Older people; Original; Patients; qualitative; Qualitative Research; Quality of life; Recruitment; Residential care; Social behavior; Social interaction; Social interactions; Social networks; Social support; Sound; treatment burden; Uncertainty; Workload; Workloads; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1369-6513; 1369-7625; 1369-7625
• DOI: 10.1111/hex.14067

Introduction Hearing loss is a chronic health condition that rises sharply with age. The way people respond to and cope with health conditions is influenced by their capacity to perform illness and treatment‐related work. The aim was to explore the cumulative burdens of living with hearing loss and the resources mobilised to ease the burdens. Methods A qualitative design was used with semi‐structured interviews (online or in‐person) with participants recruited through audiology services and nonclinical services, such as lip‐reading classes. Forty‐six participants with hearing loss aged between 16 and 96 years were interviewed. An abductive approach, informed by May et al.'s burden of treatment theory, was used to analyse the data. Results The illness burden involved participants working to make sense of their hearing loss, engaging in emotional work in response to changes in sound, social interactions and identity and coping with the daily frustrations required to communicate with others. Abandonment and uncertainty characterised the treatment burden; participants engaged in emotional work to adjust to hearing technology and deal with the uncertainty of how their hearing might progress. To ameliorate the burdens, participants drew on internal resources (psychological, health literacy, cognitive) and external resources (social support, financial, information, technology). Conclusions The workload of hearing loss appears largely devolved to the patient and is not always visible. Our work indicates the need to widen approaches in audiological care through the implementation of lifeworld‐led care, family‐centred care and peer support to build support for those with hearing loss. Patient or Public Contribution We developed the project in consultation with members of the public who have lived experience of hearing loss recruited through Aston University and volunteer links to audiology services. We also consulted people more likely to be affected by hearing loss adults including adults with learning disabilities, older adults in residential care and people from South Asia (Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani communities). These individuals commented on the study aims, interview schedule and participant recruitment practices. One of our co‐authors (expert by experience) contributed to the development and interpretation of themes and preparation of the final manuscript.