Living with late deafness: insight from between worlds.

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Psychology
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Limited research exists on the psychosocial impact of late-onset deafness in adults.
• Adult-onset hearing loss affects psychological well-being, social integration, and employment.
• Understanding these experiences is vital for developing targeted support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of adults in the UK who have acquired deafness later in life.
• To identify the psychosocial consequences and support needs of individuals with late-onset deafness.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing in-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews.
• Eight participants (33-60 years old) with late-onset deafness were interviewed.
• Framework analysis was used to identify key themes in the transcribed data.

Main Results:

• Acquired deafness was a devastating experience, causing severe psychological, social, and employment difficulties.
• Participants felt alienated from both hearing and prelingually deaf communities, losing their sense of identity.
• While professional support varied, peer support and rehabilitation programs delivered by deafened individuals were highly valued.

Conclusions:

• Late-onset deafness creates a profound 'twilight zone' experience, impacting identity and belonging.
• There is a significant need for accessible and effective psychosocial support and advice for adults experiencing acquired deafness.
• Peer-led rehabilitation programs demonstrate particular value in addressing the unique challenges of late-onset deafness.