Family member involvement in audiology appointments with older people with hearing impairment

This study aimed to investigate family members' involvement in audiology rehabilitation appointments.

Audiology appointments were video-recorded and analysed using quantitative coding and conversation analysis (CA).

The study sample included 13 audiologists, 17 older adults with hearing impairment, and 17 family members.

Initial coding showed that family members participated in 12% of the total talk time during audiology appointments. The CA results demonstrated that family members were not typically invited to join the conversation. However, family members would self-select to speak by: (1) responding to questions from the audiologist which were directed at the client; (2) self-initiating expansions on clients' turns; and (3) self-initiating questions. When family members did participate in the interaction, audiologists typically responded by shifting the conversation back to the client.

While family members currently have minimal participation in audiology appointments, they display a strong interest in being involved and sharing their experiences of the client's hearing impairment. The findings suggest support for implementing family-centred care principles in audiology practice.