title: Representations of workers with hearing loss in Canadian newspapers: a thematic analysis.
abstract: Participation in the labour force with a hearing impairment presents a number of challenges. This study describes how Canadian newspapers represent workers with hearing loss.
  
  
  
  Taking a critical framing theory approach, thematic analysis was performed through coding relevant articles, abstracting and hierarchically categorising themes.
  
  
  
  Seven English-language Canadian newspapers were searched for publications between 1995 and 2016. Twenty-six articles met our criteria: discussing paid workers with hearing loss who used English rather than sign language on the job and making reference to workers' competence.
  
  
  
  We identified a global theme, Focussing on a good worklife or focussing on a limited worklife, composed of three organising themes (1) Prominent individuals struggle, take action, and continue despite hearing loss, (2) Workers with hearing loss in the community create their best day themselves, and (3) Workers with hearing loss, as a generalised whole, are portrayed as either competent or limited.
  
  
  
  The dominant framing portrays individual workers as ingenious, determined, and successful. Negative framings were predominantly generalisations to these workers as a group. To generate more positive framings, professionals can build relationships with consumer groups and, when contacted by the media, direct journalists to interview workers with hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: a National Centre for Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University , London , Ontario , Canada and.
authors.forename: Raphaelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koerber
authors.affiliation: a National Centre for Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University , London , Ontario , Canada and.
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: b School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Professions, Dalhousie University , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: a National Centre for Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University , London , Ontario , Canada and.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheesman
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D007600:Judgment; D009524:Newspapers as Topic; D009790:Occupations; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011287:Prejudice; D011639:Public Opinion; D012813:Sign Language; D057545:Social Stigma; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Psycho-social/emotional; aging; assistive technology; hearing aids