title: Exploring hearing aid use in older women through narratives.
abstract: This study explored experiences surrounding hearing aid use and non-use in older women with hearing loss. A narrative approach was used to gain an in-depth understanding of the meaning and contextual issues that impact upon the adaptation process of older adults and their transitions in using hearing devices. Four women over the age of sixty who were identified as being consistent hearing aid users took part in three face-to-face interviews. Wengraf's (2001) biographic-narrative-interview guiding framework was used to gather data in this study. Data were analyzed both holistically and thematically from a phenomenological perspective to identify the meaning and essence of the participants' experiences. The results revealed an overarching theme of meaningful participation in life situations and events that were linked to purposeful use and non-use of hearing aids. Barriers and facilitators related to participation, which in turn affect hearing aid use and acceptance, were uncovered. The results of this study have implications for audiologic research, and practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lockey
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids / Q000523:psychology*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D012919:Social Behavior