Abstract
BackgroundHearing impairment is one of the most frequent chronic conditions. Persons with a hearing impairment (PHI) have various experiences during their ‘journey’ through hearing loss. In our previous studies we have developed a ‘patient journey’ model of PHI and their communication partners (CPs). We suggest this model could be useful in internet-based pre-fitting counseling of a person with hearing disability (PHD).Methods/DesignA randomized controlled trial (RCT) with waiting list control (WLC) design will be used in this study. One hundred and fifty eight participants with self-reported hearing disability (that is, score >20 in the Hearing Handicap Questionnaire (HHQ)) will be recruited to participate in this study. They will be assigned to one of two groups (79 participants in each group): (1) Information and counseling provision using the ‘patient journey’ model; and (2) WLC. They will participate in a 30 day (4 weeks) internet-based counseling program based on the ‘patient journey’ model. Various outcome measures which focuses on hearing disability, depression and anxiety, readiness to change and acceptance of hearing disability will be administered pre (one week before) and post (one week and six months after) intervention to evaluate the effectiveness of counseling.DiscussionInternet-based counseling is being introduced as a viable option for audiological rehabilitation. We predict that the ‘patient journey’ model will have several advantages during counseling of a PHD. Such a program, if proven effective, could yield cost and time-efficient ways of managing hearing disability.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System NCT01611129.
Highlights
Hearing impairment is one of the most frequent chronic conditions
Internet-based counseling is being introduced as a viable option for audiological rehabilitation
We suggest that making the Persons with a hearing impairment (PHI) aware of the ‘patient journey’ and in particular which stages they are currently in and what to expect later on, would increase their acceptance of hearing loss and readiness to change, positively facilitating stages of change in reaction to the hearing loss
Summary
It is well documented that only a small percentage of people with hearing loss seek help and uptake amplification devices [40]. Studies indicate that participating in counseling-based aural rehabilitation would bring additional benefit in reducing perceived hearing disability than hearing aids alone [10]. Internet-based rehabilitation programs have recently started coming in to use and studies have shown promising results [11,25] This internet-based counseling using the ‘patient journey’ model, is expected to benefit the people with perceived hearing difficulties in a number of ways including: reduced perceived hearing disability, decreased anxiety and depression, positive change in the stages of change and increased acceptance of hearing disability. Whilst we expect to reduce perceived hearing disability through this intervention, there are very small chances that the opposite could happen in some cases This is because thinking about the future challenges related to hearing problems may be overwhelming for some participants. All authors participated in the preparation of, and approved for publication, the final manuscript
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