title: Experiences of hearing loss and views towards interventions to promote uptake of rehabilitation support among UK adults.
abstract: Effective hearing loss rehabilitation support options are available. Yet, people often experience delays in receiving rehabilitation support. This study aimed to document support-seeking experiences among a sample of UK adults with hearing loss, and views towards potential strategies to increase rehabilitation support uptake. People with hearing loss were interviewed about their experiences of seeking support, and responses to hypothetical intervention strategies, including public awareness campaigns, a training programme for health professionals, and a national hearing screening programme.
  
  
  
  Semi-structured qualitative interview design with thematic analysis.
  
  
  
  Twenty-two people with hearing loss, aged 66-88.
  
  
  
  Three themes, representing barriers to receiving rehabilitation support and potential areas for intervention, were identified: making the journey from realization to readiness, combatting social stigma, and accessing appropriate services. Barriers to receiving support mostly focused on appraisal of hearing loss symptoms. Interventions enabling symptom appraisal, such as routine screening, or demonstrating how to raise the topic effectively with a loved one, were welcomed.
  
  
  
  Interventions to facilitate realization of hearing loss should be prioritized. Raising awareness of the symptoms and prevalence of hearing loss may help people to identify hearing problems and reduce stigma, in turn increasing hearing loss acceptance.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Public Health , University College London , UK .|b Action on Hearing Loss , London , UK , and.
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rolfe
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychology , Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001307:Auditory Perception; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057545:Social Stigma; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Assistive technology; behavioural measures; hearing aid satisfaction; psycho-social/emotional