Integrating hearing loss was a complex and dynamic process for patients
Question What are the experiences of people who are integrating a hearing loss into their daily lives?
Design
Phenomenology.
Setting
A large urban area of Georgia, USA.
Patients
32 people (age range 18–84 y, 59% women) who reported hearing impairment defined as a loss of hearing that required the individual to develop alternate techniques for accomplishing those things that could be readily done with hearing. Hearing impairment was defined as mild, moderate, severe, or profound and was acquired after language development. All participants felt that the loss interfered with communication with others. Participants were ≥18 years old and were recruited from churches and physicians' offices. 7 participants were 18–39 years old, 12 were 40–62 years old, and 13 were 63–84 years old. 15 were white, 10 were African-American, 4 were Asian-American, and 3 were Hispanic. 11 had completed high school. 14 were retired. 21 had an adequate financial status. 26 had had their hearing loss for 2–4 years. 27 had had a gradual onset of the hearing impairment. 5 participants had mild loss, …
