The objective of the current research project is to investigate the effectiveness of communication training in first-time hearing aid users with mild to moderate hearing loss delivered in-person in groups or individually. In doing so, the project aims to strengthen evidence-based person-centered care for individuals with hearing loss and pave the path toward more holistic hearing healthcare. We hypothesize that participants receiving communication training will show improved hearing-related quality of life, communication strategies, and personal adjustment compared to controls. Moreover, group training is expected to yield greater benefits in communication strategies and adjustment than individual training, due to its interactive nature and peer support, leading to more positive evaluations in interviews. A pretest-posttest design will be used, with testing before and after the communication training sessions, and two experimental groups and a control group. The two experimental groups are the groups receiving in-person group and individual training. The control group does not receive the communication training nor an alternative. A mixed-method will be applied to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data include screening measures, audiological tests, and questionnaires, while the qualitative data consist of a semi-structured interview.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
57
The Dutch Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be assessed.
1. Tympanometry 2. Otoscopy 3. Pure-tone audiometry 4. Speech audiometry in quiet and in noise
5 questionnaires are included (Dutch translation): 1. The hAVICOP questionnaire to assess the hearing-related quality of life for Auditory-Visual, Cognitive and Psychosocial functioning 2. The Revised Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (RHHI-A) 3. The Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired (CPHI) 4. The Hearing Attitudes in Rehabilitation Questionnaire (HARQ) 5. The International OutcomeInventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA)
The participant will take part in two training sessions. Depending on the assigned group, this will take place individually or in a group setting. During the training, challenges commonly faced by people with hearing loss will be discussed, and strategies to communicate more effectively will be introduced.
A semi-structured one-on-one interviews will be conducted. Participants in the group and individual training will be asked about the feasibility, usability, and effectiveness of the training they attended. Participants in the control group, who did not receive training, will be asked about their expectations regarding a communication training.
Ghent University Hospital
Ghent, East-Flanders, Belgium
Hearing related quality of life questionnaire
Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: Once during the baseline testing and once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).
International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids Questionnaire
Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: Once during the baseline testing and once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).
Hearing Attitudes in Rehabilitation Questionnaire
Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame: Once during the baseline testing and once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).
Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening Questionnaire
Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame: Once during the baseline testing and once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).
Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired Questionnaire
Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame: Once during the baseline testing and once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).
Interview about training
Time frame: This outcome measure will be assessed once: once during the post testing (+/- 7 to 8 weeks after the baseline).
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