A multicentre study evaluating the effects of the Swedish ACE programme.

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Rehabilitation sciences
• Public health

Background:

• Hearing loss impacts communication, activity, and participation.
• Effective rehabilitation programs are crucial for individuals with hearing impairments.
• The Active Communication Education (ACE) program is an interactive group education approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of a modified Swedish version of the ACE program.
• To explore variations in outcomes based on region, age, gender, hearing loss severity, and attendance of significant others.

Main Methods:

• Intervention study with between- and within-group measurements.
• Seventy-seven participants with hearing impairments (mean age 73.9 years) from five Swedish regions.
• Data collected on communication strategy use, activity, and participation.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant short- and long-term improvements in communication strategy use, activity, and participation.
• The ACE program demonstrated greatest effectiveness in older individuals, women, and those with severe hearing loss.
• Participants attending with a significant other showed improved communication strategies; no regional differences were found.

Conclusions:

• The ACE program is effective and recommended for clinical implementation as an adjunct to hearing aid rehabilitation.
• The program enhanced coping abilities and restored social identities among participants.
• Further research with younger individuals and a control group is advised.