Communication strategies, personal adjustments, and need for recovery in employees with hearing loss who receive a communication group-training

Abstract

Purpose Communication group-trainings are part of current aural rehabilitation practices, but their effect has not yet been investigated systematically in working adults. The purpose of this study was to describe the communication strategies (CS), personal adjustments (PA) and need for recovery (NFR) of employees with hearing loss before and directly after a communication group-training. Methods Nine employees were included at two audiological centres that provided a different group-training. Two online questionnaires were completed, at baseline and after completing the training. Results Most employees used more adequate CS after the group-training, but there seems to be a difference between the improvement in PA between the centres. No trends towards a decrease in NFR were observed. Conclusion It is still challenging to reduce the work difficulties that are encountered by employees with hearing loss. The inter-centre differences point out a need for standardization. Suggestions for improvements are provided and should be further investigated in a larger population.