Providing an internet-based audiological counselling programme to new hearing aid users: a qualitative study

Int J Audiol. 2006 Dec;45(12):697-706. doi: 10.1080/14992020600944408.

Abstract

People with an acquired hearing loss often have difficulty adjusting to a first hearing aid. Studies have shown that audiological counselling can facilitate adjustment to a first hearing aid. Because of its interactive nature, the internet could be a valuable tool to gain information about the experiences of the new hearing aid user and to address the needs for audiological counselling. An internet-based audiological counselling programme in the form of daily e-mails during the first month after the hearing aid fitting was offered to three new hearing aid users. The data, qualitative in nature, were comprised of the content of the e-mails and of in-depth interviews with the participants and their audiologist, and were analysed according to grounded theory. Overall, the internet-based audiological counselling programme provided rich descriptions of the experiences of the participants and reinforced positive adjustment behaviours experienced by them.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Audiology / methods*
  • Communication
  • Counseling / methods*
  • Female
  • Hearing Aids*
  • Hearing Disorders / therapy
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Professional-Patient Relations
  • Program Development*